Parasha Tzav (צו) — Vayikra 6:1 – 8:36. Read on Shabbat, March 27, 2027.
Summary of Parasha Tzav
G-d commands Moshe to convey to Aharon and his sons the rules of service for each offering. For the olah, the fire on the altar must burn continually and never go out; each morning the kohen, dressed in linen, removes the ashes and places them beside the altar. The Torah then sets out the rules of the minchah, eaten as unleavened bread within the sacred precinct, and then the daily offering brought by the High Priest, which is burned entirely. It details the place of slaughter and the eating of the chatat and the asham, which are most holy things reserved for the kohanim. Next come the shelamim, including the thanksgiving offering, the todah, which must be eaten on the same day, together with loaves of bread; consecrated meat that has become impure must be burned, and a person who is impure may not eat of it. The prohibition against eating fat and blood is restated, as are the portions of the offerings that belong to the kohanim, the breast and the thigh. In the second part, Moshe gathers the assembly at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting and carries out the consecration of Aharon and his sons: washing, dressing, anointing of the Sanctuary and of Aharon, and then the inauguration offerings. Aharon and his sons remain at the entrance of the Tent for seven days, and do everything that G-d commanded through Moshe.
The Themes
- The perpetual fire on the altar
- The thanksgiving offering
- The inauguration of the kohanim
Lectures by Rav Raphaël Benizri on Tzav
There are no lectures by the Rav on this parasha yet. Find all available lectures on the Weekly Parasha page.
A Question for the Shabbat Table
The fire on the altar was never to go out: what keeps our enthusiasm alive over time?
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Summary by the Pensées Juives editorial team. The Rav’s teachings are found in his lectures, linked above.