Weekly Parsha - Tzav

This week’s Parsha details how the daily sacrificial service was done daily in the Mishkan (tabernacle-while the Jews were in the desert), and later in the Beit HaMikdash.  One of the details that the Torah describes is the process of cleaning off the ashes on the mizbeach (the altar) in order to maintain the fire which was supposed to be constantly burning.  The verse says (Leviticus 6:5-6), “The fire on the altar shall be kept burning, not to go out…a perpetual fire shall be kept burning on the altar, not to go out.”

Often we use fire as a symbol for passion, excitement and enthusiasm.  If we look at this part of the service allegorically, we are given good advice on how to lead a consistently meaningful religious life.  Many of us find inspiration and excitement at times of the year, during a specific religious event, or even when learning some torah.  In the heat of the moment,  we might promise ourselves to try harder or do more, only to forget about those plans shortly after.

The lesson from the Parsha is that it takes work to keep that “flame” burning.  If we don’t do anything to take care of it, nurture it, and maintain it  then it will extinguish.  With regard to our own religious lives, when we feel a passion and excitement about something, it isn’t enough to simply list plans in our minds .  When we are feeling the burning excitement, we should take a step back to establish realistic goals, and maybe even write them down so that we can look back over time and make sure that we are still on track.  As the saying goes, “Genius is one percent inspiration, ninety-nine percent perspiration”.  We have to do the work to reach our potential.