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Parashat Tzav 5785
Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz, Rabbi of the Western Wall and Holy Sites
Moses has just erected the Mishkan (Tabernacle). The magnificent sacred vessels are in place, and the detailed laws of the sacrifices have already been given. The people of Israel eagerly anticipate the commencement of the Mishkan service. All that remains is for Aaron and his sons to enter the Tent of Meeting and begin offering sacrifices as Moses commanded.
But nothing begins without a “trial period” for the Mishkan. An entire section of this week’s Torah portion is dedicated to describing a unique, one-time week in the Sinai Desert—a preparation phase for the daily and ongoing service of the Mishkan.
This special week, known as “The Seven Days of Consecration” (Milu’im, meaning laying on of hands, handing over power), grants Aaron and his sons the authority to serve in the holy work. It elevates them to the status of sacred representatives, standing before God on behalf of the entire nation.
Every significant step in life requires preparation. No one would step into a new role without first acquiring the necessary knowledge, whether through academic studies or professional training. After that, practical experience is essential—understanding the tools of the trade and anticipating the challenges that may arise.
Before our children embark on life’s challenges, we dedicate years to their education—at home, at school, in social settings, and in developing life skills. Even before a child is born, the mother undergoes nine months of pregnancy, during which the fetus develops in preparation for birth. Before any major transition—a wedding, moving to a new home, or starting a new job—we take time to prepare, organize our thoughts, and navigate our path forward.
We usually view preparation as a necessary but somewhat tedious process—something we must go through to reach our goal. If possible, we might even prefer to skip the preparation and jump straight into the main event.
However, one verse in this week’s portion teaches us the secret of continuous preparation—and why we should never skip it, not even for a single day:
“This is the offering that Aaron and his sons shall bring to the Lord on the day he is anointed: one-tenth of an ephah of fine flour as a daily grain offering.”
(Leviticus 6:13)
Every priest, on the day he begins his service for the first time, offers a special grain offering known as the “Inauguration Offering” (Minchat Chinuch)—his first consecration into sacred service. However, from the word “daily” (tamid) at the end of the verse, our sages derived an astonishing insight: The High Priest offers this same inauguration offering every single day for the rest of his life.
The Torah demands that the mindset of a newly appointed priest, experiencing his first day of sacred service, should remain with the High Priest throughout his entire life.
This teaches us a profound lesson: The highest virtue of a person is to remain a lifelong student, always seeking wisdom and knowledge.
A person who continuously strives for growth is always in a state of learning and renewal. This is why the most esteemed title for a Torah scholar is “Talmid Chacham” (a wise student)—because true wisdom comes from never ceasing to learn.
Those who maintain their curiosity, alertness, and thirst for knowledge, who never stop growing and preparing themselves each day, are truly complete individuals.
