Parshat Tzav- Prayer of Thanks

Parsha In A Nutshell:


Parshat צו (Tzav) is a continuation of the previous Parsha, Parshat ויקרא (Vayikra). This weeks Parsha continues to recount the various laws of the קורבנות (sacrifices), including the קרבן עולה, the ascending offering, the קרבן מנחה, the meal offering, the קרבן חטאת, the sin offering , קרבן אשם, the guilt offering and the קרבן שלמים, the peace offering, that were addressed in the previous Parsha.
The main difference between our Parsha this week and Parshat Vayikra is that last week, in Parshat Vayikra, Moses addressed the whole nation of Israel, saying:
דבר אל בני ישראל ואמרת אלהם אדם כי יקריב מכם קרבן לה
Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them; When a man among you will bring an offering to G-d... (Vayikra 1:1).
In this weeks Parsha, the laws are addressed specifically to the כהנים (priests). G-d commands Moses:
...צו את אהרן ואת בניו לאמר
Command Aaron and his sons, saying...(6:2)
Rashi explained that G-d used the unusual word צו, command instead of the more commonly found דבר, to speak in order to emphasize the urgency of the matter.
One of the tasks that the Kohen is commanded here is to keep the fire on the מזבח (altar) burning at all times, as G-d instructs in the opening verses:
והאש על המזבח תוקד בו לא תכבה
And the fire on the alter shall be kept burning, it shall not go out... (6:5)
The Kohen is also instructed to bring a meal offering on the day he is anointed and the כהן הגדול or Kohen ha-gadol (the high priest) is instructed to bring a meal offering each day. These offerings were offered wholly to G-d and were not eaten. The meat of the sin offering and of the guilt offering was, however, eaten by the Kohen.
The peace offering is eaten by the person who brings it, and if the person offers the sacrifice as an offering of thanksgiving, then he shall also offer unleavened cakes mixed with oil, unleavened wafers spread with oil, and cakes of fine flour mixed with oil, soaked. The meat of a sacrifice given for thanksgiving was to be eaten on the day of its offering and none of it was to remain until morning.
The Talmud Berachot 54b comments on the thanksgiving offering, explaining that four types of people who are required to bring a thanksgiving offering:
1: One who crosses the sea,
2: One who crosses the desert,
3: One who was ill and recovered
and 4: One who was imprisoned and was released.
The Parsha also discusses the seven days of inauguration during which Aaron and his sons remained inside the Sanctuary and were consecrated by G-d for seven days. Moses commands the priests,
ומפתח אהל מועד לא תצאו שבעת ימים
From the entrance of the Tent of meeting you shall not go out seven days (8:33).
The Parsha ends with the statement:
ויעש אהרון ובניו את כל הדברים אשר צוה ה ביד משה
Aaron and his sons fulfilled all the edicts that G-d commanded by the hand of Moses(8:36).
Rashi notes that praise should be given to Aaron and his sons for not deviating to the left or to the right from G-ds commandments.

*Every person should be thankful for what they have. Many people complain and deny the existence of G-d because they don't receive an answer from Him and since they don't receive an answer from Him that means He doesnt exist. However, those people are wrong! G-d speaks to every single individual, it is us who chooses to listen to the message or not. In life we have the opportunity to connect ourselves to the Almighty and praise, thank and ask Him for everything that we have or we might think we need. Hashem knows best and knows what each individual can handle and needs in order to be the best child of Hashem. In life we pray and pray for things that we need and for some reason Hashem isn't giving it to us. Some might say He doesn't hear you but that is absolutely wrong Hashem hears every cry of His children and it pains Him however, He is our father in heaven and He knows what is best for His child just like a doctor knows whats best for his patient. So we might not receive what we want but we definitely receive what we need!
May this shabbat bring you happiness and spirituality in your life and Besrat Hashem this Purim we will turn the negative decree around to the good and this year we will be zochet, we will merit to see the coming of Mashiach. Amen!*