Parshat Tzav; Leviticus 6:1- 8:36 By: Rabbi Denise L. Eger
Our Parsha, Tzav continues the explanation of various sacrifices that were introduced in last week’s portion Vayikra. The details of the burnt offering, sin offering, well-being offering, grain offering and atonement offerings are presented and at first glance seem like nothing but a repetition of material we saw last week. But last week’s portion is aimed at the Israelites and what kinds of offerings they bring and for what circumstances, while these instructions in Tzav are directed to the priests about the offerings and what their tasks are in receiving the offering and making the sacrifice on the altar itself.
Remember this is all new to the Israelites. This is a group of former slaves and forced labor. They were never the priests of Egypt. They didn’t have a system of offerings in a regular fashion. Thus this portion helps the family of Aaron who has been designated for the priesthood understand their sacred duties in the newly built Tabernacle. The priests are taught what to do with the sacrifices, how to keep the altar burning and even what they must do to remove the ashes that accumulate on the altar. This week’s portion, Tzav becomes the priests “how-to” book of sacrifices and their role in the upkeep of the Tabernacle’s sacrificial service.
Also described in this week’s portion is the ordination of this family as the priests of the Israelites. As part of their ordination ceremony they are instructed to remain in the Tabernacle for seven days, “You shall not go outside the entrance of the Tent of Meeting for seven days, until the day that your period of ordination is completed For your ordination will require seven days….You shall remain at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting day and night for seven days, keeping God’s charge that you may not die for so I have been commanded (Lev. 8: 33, 35).”
After Moses offers special offerings for the Cohanim, the priests, after they were robed in special garments, after Moses anointed them with oil and with the blood of the sacrifice and after they ate a ceremonial meal, the priests evidently had to be sequestered for a week in the Tabernacle. Why should they be separated from the rest of the Israelites? Why should they dwell in the Mishkan since that was the dwelling place of the Divine?
In truth the Cohanim now had different responsibilities and obligations and requirements than the rest of the Israelites. They were holy to God in a different way than the entire people and the High Priest himself wore a crown that had the words “Holy to God” inscribed upon it! Thus in one way the separation for seven days helps this new batch of priests understand the sacred nature not just of their work but of their being. They can dwell in the holy precincts even though it is the dwelling place of the Divine. But our tradition is divided about whether they stayed in the Mishkan for the entire period or not. Rashi says they stayed the whole time while others say they could not sleep in the Mishkan and went elsewhere to sleep. While yet other commentators say they only stayed in the Mishkan during the seven days for the periods of instruction and when they were making the sacrifices of ordination.
Tradition connects this time in the Mishkan to a week of shiva or mourning when mourners for seven days withdraw from community or the seven days the Torah teaches a menstruating woman must withdraw from community or a person isolated for skin disease withdraws from the community. In each of these the withdrawl and re-entry is about a change in status. The status of the mourner, keeps him or her from certain religious obligations, the menstruating woman and one with skin afflictions must repurify spiritually to re-enter the community and the new priest has new and special obligations.
Today moments of reflection and quiet and withdrawl can help us adjust to a new status. Even the newly married couple following their ceremony of kiddushin has a period of time they sequester themselves from their celebration to acknowledge the change in their status from single to married. So too even as the ordination of the priests is celebrated, they have this time of seclusion to show their change in status.
Posted by Aaron at March 18, 2008 05:21 PM
