In the previous
portion of the Torah, Vayikra, the different kind of offerings for the
Tabernacle are described in detail, and in Tzav the
attention is focused on the Kohen Gadol, the High Priest. As we mentioned in
our commentary on Vayikra, the High Priest represents the highest
level of consciousness through which we are able to communicate and relate to
our Creator.
In Tzav, which is the
imperative form of the Hebrew verb to
command, there are clear indications for Moses to
instruct Aaron and his sons (also his future descendants) to follow specific
instructions from which one echoes among our Sages.
“And the fire upon
the altar shall be kept burning in it; it shall not be put out.”, (and later
emphasized), “A constant fire shall burn upon the altar, it shall never go
out.” (Leviticus 6:5-6)
Rabbi Moshe Alshich (1521-1593)
explains in his commentary on the Torah that the fire burning in the Tabernacle
is the Love for God that burns within every soul, and says that the task of the
High Priest is to maintain permanently lit this fire, as God's Love is
constantly present for us. It is a reciprocal Love in which we see in the altar
both Divine and human fires blended together in one.
Again, we evoke our Sages on the High
Priest's role.
“Be of the disciples of Aaron, a lover
of peace, a pursuer of peace, one who loves the creatures and draws them close
to Torah.” (Pirkei Avot 1:12)
In its constant connection with God's
Love, our higher consciousness is endowed to harmonize the lower aspects of our
human traits, bringing them together to also achieve closeness to the Creator.
This is the purpose of the sacrifices in the altar.
We experience
constant, permanent awareness of God's Love as our Essence and identity when
our higher awareness is guiding all levels of consciousness. Why God's
Commandment to keep the fire of our Love for Him constantly burning is
mentioned twice? There are many Commandments in the Torah that are repeated
several times, and in their repetition there is an implicit warning: if we
don't fulfill them, we separate from Him.
It is always our choice
to separate from God's Love, but let's never forget that He never
separates from us. The semantic root in Hebrew for commandment, mitzvah, also means
connection and that reference is clearly related to God in the context of the
Torah. We learn from parshat Tzav that we are solely
responsible to empower our higher consciousness, the High Priest of our
awareness of God, to maintain our closeness to Him.
We are here in this world to be and do God's ways and attributes. In order to fulfill this Divine destiny we have to constantly embrace Him with the most ardent Love, like a fire that never extinguishes. Let's never forget that this fire, His and ours, is the unbreakable bond that nurtures and sustains us.
“It is their portion,
which I have given to them from My fire.” (Leviticus 6:10)
This Divine fire is
God's Love.
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