Parashat Tzav

How the sacrificial system lives on.

The sacrificial system teaches that coming nearer to God requires coming nearer to each other.

Too much isolation set Nadav and Avihu over the edge.

The prohibition against leavened bread for most Temple grain offerings imbues the Temple with the spirit of freedom all year round.

The complex rules of thanksgiving offering ensured that it enabled the public participation of the broader community in thanking God.

Like the fire that always burned on the altar, we should make sure that our inner fires of compassion always inspire us to work for justice.

The thanksgiving offering teaches us the importance of thanking God as a communal sharing of faith and appreciation.

Zealousness regarding the elevation offering reminds us to be careful in our service of God and others.

Our spiritual leaders must always remember that the sanctity of human life should never supercede devotion to God.

Despite the occasional need for private expressions of Judaism, we must remember our connection to the larger public community.

The ceremony installing the priests teaches the importance of consecrating the entire body for sacred service.

Our books, texts, and traditions bring new meaning to us at different stages of our life.

The metamorphosis of Aaron and his sons into priests was a process wholly transparent to the nation.

Modern commentary and interpretation may ease some discomfort surrounding ancient liturgy.

There's a perpetual tension between fostering a strong sense of self in our children and ensuring that they don't become self-centered and egotistical.

Tzav: A resource for parents.

Learn more about the weekly Torah portion.

Sacrifices are not enough.

The sacrifices teach us about constancy in relating to God.

God tells Moses to describe the rituals for some of the offerings to the priests; the priests then undergo the process of ordination.