Tzav and Pesach 2020

1As we approach the holiday of Pesach, it is worthwhile to examine the parsha to ascertain relevance to the holiday. What comes to mind is the Karban Mincha; the grain offerings. There are four types, flour (Soless), baked (Maafe Tanur), fried in a shallow pan (Machavas) , and fried in a deep pan (Marcheses). In each case a fistful is taken and burned on the alter leaving the remainder to the Kohen for personal consumption. All are made matzo and carry the prohibition not to be made Chametz. In Vaykira and again in Tzav the Torah warns us “Lo Teafeh Chametz” You shall not bake it Chametz”. “Even that which is left for the Kohen may not be baked Chametz. Flour offerings in the Mikdash were encumbered with the prohibition against Chametz. Imagine keeping Pesach all year long. That is what went on in the Beit Hamikdash year round. It’s no surprise the parsha opens with the command “Instruct Aaron and his sons. Tzav ess aharon ve-ess banav” Rashi says Tzav means Ziruz, “Be efficient”. All this efficiency was needed to avoid Chametz. Clearly from Pesach rules and the mikdash rules there is something fundamentally negative about Chametz, however only during Pesach and only in the mikdash year around!

2Explaining the prohibition against Chametz the Ramban calls on the Rambam in the Guide for the Perplexed. He says that the torah’s prohibition against Chametz was a response to the practice of idol worshippers who insisted on Chametz exclusively in their worship services. We therefore do just the opposite. Some have suggested that on Seder night the Jewish family home is transformed into a “Mikdash me-at”, a place of great sanctity comparable to the Beit Hamikdash. Many of the customs of the seder reflect the service in the Mikdash, including the washing of the hands (kiyor-washing basin), the wine (nesachim- libations), the matzo (menachot-grain offerings), the kitul (bigdei kehunah- priestly garments), the Halell which was recited during sacrifices, and others. The prohibition against Chametz on Pesach night similarly reflects these similarities.

3Rashi on Chumash introducing the grain offerings quotes the Talmud in Menachot “What is special about the grain offering that it alone is introduced with the term “Nefesh” (soul)? Only a poor person brings a grain offering. Hashem says “I consider it as though he has sacrificed his very soul.” It is with that in mind we understand Chametz, both on Pesach and in the mikdash. The grain offering to be truly the bread of the poor is only in its matzo state, then and only then can it be considered “as though one has given one’s soul”. On Pesach night and indeed all of Pesach we give a nod to this remarkable Midrash as we too are poor in the eyes of our Creator, and wish to be considered as though we too have given over ourselves to Him. This idea is imbedded in the prohibition against Chametz and the mitzvah of matzo throughout the holiday.

4In these difficult times we are indeed poor in the eyes of our Creator. May we merit His redeeming grace in this month the month of redemption!