25_Tzvah (3 of 4): Sacrifice

ZARABEN.ORG releases Torah Teaching 25 on Torah commandments and the sacrificial system as obedience to YHVH rather than desire for offerings. RC JedidiYah explains the burnt offering as total submission, and the “grain” (minkoff) offering as a voluntary, bloodless gift/tribute that must be the best, costly, and a testimony of covenant obedience, not given for selfish gain or public display. JedidiYah reveals that these laws apply beyond having a temple and emphasizes giving to clean, consecrated priests and that offerings are “by fire,” meaning turned over without reclaiming or boasting. JedidiYah outlines laws for sin and trespass offerings (one law for both), peace/thanksgiving/vow/freewill offerings, rules on clean vs unclean participation, and prohibitions on eating fat and blood, concluding that drawing near (corban) requires costly, obedient giving.

 

Today’s Torah reading is Tzav (Command), from Leviticus 6:8 through 8:36, along with the prophetic reading from 2 Kings 16. The Hebrew root “tsavah” carries the meaning of commanding, appointing, instructing, and setting things in order, reinforcing the central theme of disciplined, obedient living.

Recorded April 19, 2025 at 9:00 AM.