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Tzav "Command"

Also known as Shabbat HaGadol

27 Mar 2010

Leviticus 6:8 (1)-8:36, 9:22-23

Malachi 3:4-24

Jeremiah 7:21-8:3, 9:22-23

Hebrews 8:1-6

Torah portion summary:

Command to Aaron and his sons about

1. Elevation offering and the altar fire

2. Meal offering

3. Sin offering

4. Guilt offering

5. Thanksgiving offering

6. Instruction about eating in a state of Contamination

7. Consecration of Aaron and his sons, the Kohanim

The following is taken from notes of the HafTorah of Tzav in Stone edition of the Chumash:

The Sabbath before Pesach is called Shabbat HaGadol, the Great Sabbath, because in Egypt it was the day when G-d’s people informed the infuriated Egyptians that the sheep, an Egyptian deity, would become an offering to G-d. The Jewish people obeyed the words given by G-d thru Moses His servant. Thus the Sabbath before redemption was a day when G-d’s people showed faith and were rewarded with His protection.

The following is taken from Moses.com:

 1. Today, in practically every pulpit, the rabbi delivers a homily every Shabbat. This wasn't always the case. In Jewish communities of old, the rabbi would speak to the congregation twice a year: On Shabbat Shuvah (the Shabbat between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur) the rabbi would speak about the importance of doing Teshuvah, and would remind the people of the numerous laws associated with the holiday of Sukkot (Sukkot is five days after Yom Kippur). And on Shabbat HaGadol the rabbi would discuss in his sermon some of the practical laws associated with Pesach.

2. Many communities read a special HafTorah (Malachi 3:4-24) which discusses "bring [ing] the entire tithe to the storehouse [of G-d]"  In some communities this HafTorah is only read if Shabbat HaGadol is actually on the day before Pesach. The reason for reading a HafTorah about tithing is because in the Land of Israel, tithes must be separated from all produce. Some is given to the Kohen, some to the Levite, some to the poor, and some simply had to be eaten in Jerusalem. On the day before Pesach, on the third and sixth year of the seven-year sabbatical cycle, one was required to ascertain that none of these tithes remained in his/her possession. Any remaining tithes had to be distributed to their proper owners or destroyed.

Shavua Tov & HagSameach Pesach

Rabbi Z. 

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