PARASHAT TZAV

Parshat Tzav deals with the priestly sacrifice, both on behalf of the
priesthood and on behalf of Israel.  The time honored sacrificial
system must have been very important for it satisfied ancient man's
natural desire to express tangibly his feelings of contrition and
thanksgiving.  When the second Temple was destroyed in Jerusalem
leaving no place for the sacrifices to be administered, the
sacrificial procedure was eliminated.  The Sages continued the study
and teachings of the sacrificial procedure in hopes of one day
restoring them in the eventual third temple.  Since then, the concept
of prayer has replaced the sacrificial offerings. The prayer that has
survived and predominates today in Judaism is the prayer of “giving
thanks”.  It remains as a healthy antidote for despair and discontent.
One day in the near future when Mesiach will arrive and our temple
will be rebuilt, our designated altars will be within each of us,
replenished by daily acts of human kindness and Tzedaka.

this Shabbat is called Shabbat Hagadol, the Great Shabbat that
precedes Pesach.  It was on this Shabbat before the Exodus that we
Jews prepared the lambs for slaughter.  The lamb's blood of course
identified the Jewish homes when the first born of Egypt were killed.
Since it marks the beginning of the last chapter of Egyptian exile,
the day is called the Great Shabbat.  This Shabbat became great not
because Hashem showed his mighty hand but because we exhibited our own courage and became great.  By renouncing Egypt and her Gods we aligned ourselves with Hashem the one true God.  We risked our lives in defying the Egyptians and became worthy of redemption.  A day was immortalized and a people made eternal.

SHABBATH SHALOM 

RAV. ELIAS