Parashat Tzav
27th March 2026
Week of 20 -28 March 2026
Torah portion : Lev 6:1-8:36; Haftarah: Jer 7:21-8:3, 9:22-23
The Parashiot read on previous Shabbats teach us about the sacred, worship, the place of worship, and the elements of worship, as well as the celebrant of worship. These Torah readings are a great challenge for modern times, where at first glance they may seem of little interest, or they may be seen as archaic cultic values.
In this Shabbat’s Parashah, the first part contains the ritual of sacrifice, the oblation, the sacrifice for sins and other sacrifices, and at the end we have the rite of consecration of the priesthood. What to do with this today, and what can this teach us, since the Temple no longer exists?
Throughout its history, Jewish tradition has been making Hidush (updating) happen and transforming this seemingly outdated reality into values relevant to the faith and to the identity of the people.
Rabbinic tradition transformed Temple life with its sacred and sacrificial elements, which were spaces of communion with God, of drawing closer to God through the practice of rhythmic prayer, according to the Temple’s rhythm, as well as the study of the Torah as the fundamental element for discovering and being in contact with God. On the other hand, the practice of purification before sacrifice, as well as the sacrifice itself, accompanied daily Jewish life, as if they were extensions of what was practiced in the Temple.
The Talmud teaches that “the table at which we eat is compared to the altar of the Temple” (TB Berachot 55a). Therefore, all the elements that make up the meal—the preparation, such as cleansing (purification of food and hands), the selection and composition of ingredients, and the act of eating—reproduce and deepen the values that the Torah recommended while the Temple existed and were linked to Temple life.
Within the ocean of teachings that the Tradition of Israel imparts regarding this Parashah, I quote a short passage from the Midrash Rabbah concerning verse 13 of Chapter 6 of today’s reading, in which a rich teaching unfolds from the expression (This) alone: “‘This’ is the offering of Aaron and his sons…” Teach the Midrash: R. Jonah of Bozrah expounded the verse as applying to Israel, thus: With the word ‘this’ they degraded themselves, and with the word ‘this’ they elevated themselves.
With the word ‘this’ they degraded themselves , vis. by saying, “As for ‘this’ man Moses, the man that brought us up out of Egypt, we know not what has become of him” (Ex. 32: 1); with the word ‘this’ they were elevated, as it is said: “‘This’ they shall give, every one that passeth among them that are numbered, half a shekel … for an offering to the Lord” (Ex. 30: 13).
The Rabbis expounded the verse as alluding to Aaron. Through the word ‘this’ he became degraded, as it said: “And Aaron said … and I cast it into the fire, and there came out ‘this’ calf (Ex 32: 24);and by the word ‘this’, he was elevated, as it is said: “‘This’ is the offering of Aaron and of his sons, which they shall offer unto the Lord in the day when he is anointed”.
The Word of God is always relevant and challenges us to extract the new and eternal teaching it carries: Darsheni (seek me).
This week’s Parasha Commentary was prepared by
Elio Passeto, NDS,Jerusalem–Israel, Director
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