Tzav – Our Personal Flame

Rabbi Ezra Friedman

The smallest things in life can always keep our spirits high. Sacrifices in Jewish thought represent the highest level of sanctity. Many sacrifices are given on the holiest of Jewish holidays to enhance the meaning behind these sacred days. Sacrifices are meant to be a sort of mirror for Jews. Behind them lie the deepest messages for an individual. The Ramban is famous for declaring that when a person offers a sacrifice to atone for a sin and witnesses the process of the animal being slaughtered and burned on the Altar, he should see himself as if he himself is the offering. This episode will surely cause him to repent indefinitely, as many commentators explain. This is just an example of how sacrifices can be seen as a nucleus of our being and that every aspect behind the service in the Beit Hamikdash has much to teach each one of us.

A unique and seemingly trivial aspect of sacrifices can help all Jews adjust to any uncomfortable experience. In the beginning of the Parsha, the Torah discusses the Korban Olah (Olah Sacrifice). Immediately after its laws, the Torah proclaims what should be done with the leftover flame of the offering (Vayikra 6, 5-6) :

וְהָאֵ֨שׁ עַל־הַמִּזְבֵּ֤חַ תּֽוּקַד־בּוֹ֙ לֹ֣א תִכְבֶּ֔ה וּבִעֵ֨ר עָלֶ֧יהָ הַכֹּהֵ֛ן עֵצִ֖ים בַּבֹּ֣קֶר בַּבֹּ֑קֶר וְעָרַ֤ךְ עָלֶ֙יהָ֙ הָֽעֹלָ֔ה וְהִקְטִ֥יר עָלֶ֖יהָ חֶלְבֵ֥י הַשְּׁלָמִֽים׃

The fire on the altar shall be kept burning, not to go out: every morning the priest shall feed wood to it, lay out the burnt offering on it, and turn into smoke the fat parts of the offerings of well-being.

אֵ֗שׁ תָּמִ֛יד תּוּקַ֥ד עַל־הַמִּזְבֵּ֖חַ לֹ֥א תִכְבֶֽה׃

A perpetual fire shall be kept burning on the altar, not to go out.

The Torah proclaims twice that the fire should always be burning. Our Sages learned from the later verse that there should always be a fire burning on the corner of the Altar, day and night. What is the meaning of this perpetual flame? The simple answer is that even when there is no actual service on the Altar, the fire must always burn to show that the service in the Beit Hamikdash should never cease.  Over the generations, this eternal fire has taught many other lessons. The Chatam Sofer learns that this fire represents the heart of every Jew. No matter how much a Jew distances himself from Torah and Mitzvot, the eternal fire of Torah is still burning inside of him. Other commentators learn that this fire represents the constant service to Hashem. A Jew must always have a constant and habitual dedication to Miztvot. Tefila, Shabbat, Kashrut should be unbreakable rules that are an integral part of a Jew’s life, no matter what.

Perhaps we can learn a different lesson from the fire on the Mizbeach (Altar). Throughout every Jew in life is presented with challenges in a public setting. Someone people have a hard time at work, with their image or with their financial situation. These perspectives lead to depression, anguish and other negative feelings. How can one overcome such challenges? The answer is in the flame. In the Beit Hamikdash there is no doubt that the Sacrifices are the main theme, the glory and meaning behind theme is inspiring, however there is something deeper. Specifically when the Beit Hamikdash is closed and everyone has gone home, the fire is still burning, a flame is always present. All of us have a certain core of support and love around us, no one is really alone. Some people have their family, their close friends, their children. If a person looks outside the big world and appreciates the small and loving things, he or she has around them there is no fear. When a person feels down or depressed he should realize how lucky he is. He is a good father or a trusting friend, he has a loving community or a friendly neighbor. He or she have unique talents, sport, languages or even cooking skills. When someone focuses on their own personal flame they can overcome any stumbling block in their way. This can be learnt from the fire on the altar that is never extinguished. Even though there might be no actual service on the Altar the Beit Hamikdash in it’s essence has holiness and the fire of Hashem stills burns even though the Mizbeach looks empty. In our lives as well, even if when we feel challenged in the outside world we always have our own personal flames, our friends, family or unique skills that are always with us. Our Sages mention on numerous occasions the importance and holiness of the eternal flame on the Altar, the same message is true for everyone. Even when we are meet with challenges and everything seems to being wrong we must always remember that in the corner of our lives there is a fire burning just like the one in the Beit Hamikdash and that fire will never extinguish.