Page 22 - Vayikra_ebook-RB-170316-V24102t

22
The Book of Leviticus – ‫חומש ויקרא‬

Torah Portion Tzav

The Torah portion of Tzav informs how the priests would manage offerings, as
is written:

"Command Aharon and his sons saying: This is the law of the burnt-
offering: it is that which goes up on its firewood upon the altar all
night until the morning, and the fire of the altar shall be kept burning
on it." (6:2)

The Talmud tells how every morning one of the priests would remove the ashes
that had accumulated during the night on the altar.
All the priests wanted to do this job so much that they would run on the ramp
and the first who arrived – would win!
The Talmud continues and tells that it happened several times that two of the
priests ran on the ramp and then one of them pushed his friend until he fell and
was injured.
On the one hand, the enthusiasm of the priests can be a good thing.
But on the other, the way in which the priests were behaving was sometimes an
embarrassment to the Temple of G-d.
There is in Judaism a principle that is called: "Respectful Behavior Preceded
Torah" – good behavior needs to come before the Torah.
Therefore, in order to prevent problems like these, the priests decided to give the
job of removal of the ashes to the winner of the lottery.

All right reserved to Yoel & Orly Ganor