shmuli gold and jason klein on rabbi fran

Parsha: Tzav

Shiur Reviewed: Rabbi Fran

Reviewed by: Shmuli Gold and Jason Klein

צַו אֶת-אַהֲרֹן וְאֶת-בָּנָיו לֵאמֹר, זֹאת תּוֹרַת הָעֹלָה:  הִוא הָעֹלָה עַל מוֹקְדָה עַל-הַמִּזְבֵּחַ כָּל-הַלַּיְלָה, עַד-הַבֹּקֶר, וְאֵשׁ הַמִּזְבֵּחַ, תּוּקַד בּוֹ. 

We lean from the gemara in Kidushin that the verb “Tzav”, which means to command shows that Moshe was supposed to urge the people to listen to him. The gemara goes further and says, this urging is necessary on situations that would place a burden on “Klal Yisroel” financially. Certain Korbanot are partially eating by the people bringing them and the Kohanim. But this weeks parsha begins with the idea of a “korban olah” which is a korban that is fully consumed by the fire on the misbayach, and none is eaten by any person. As we know to buy an animal was not cheap, and to see all that money “in flames” is seemingly depressing.

The question we are addressing is, why does the Torah stress the financial strain of bringing the “korban olah”, and not that of other mitzvot performed throughout the year. For example, “Lulav” and “etrog”, “tefilon”, and yeshiva tuition. We see that there is a difference between other mitzvot we spend money on and a “korban olah.” Yes! Pesach costs money but you get a satisfaction of eating the food and performing different actions. But in the case of the “Olah L’HASHEM” you are not taking an active role in doing anything, rather just spending the money. People are quicker to put their money towards something they know will last or bring them pleasure and joy. But it is much harder for someone to donate money towards something that may seem more mundane because it will not bring them physical pleasure.

Therefore, this is the reason HASHEM told Moshe to use the word “Tzav” in writing this parsha. Because had he not, the sight of the “korban olah” going up in smoke, may prevent even very righteous people from bringing future “korbanot olot.” Therefore by making it a mitzva we persuade more people to be willing to spend money on such a strictly spiritual act.

From what we heard in the dvar Torah, we realize how fortunate we are to be Jewish and although it is expensive, we appreciate the ability to do these kinds of mitzvot. We felt a stronger appreciation and connection towards expensive mitzvot like etrog and pesach, and now better understand why they are expensive to begin with. It also points out the important role that even the most expensive mitvot play in our life today. We would tell others to give over this dvar torah and we would too because it is very important in explaining monetary costs for mitzvot today.