From Christina Mattison Ebert’s D’rash Designs series.

Parashat Tzav

(Command)

Next Reading

April 12, 2025

Nisan 14, 5785

Torah Reading

Leviticus 6:1-8:36

Haftarah

Malachi 3:4-24 | Shabbat HaGadol

In this Torah portion, God continues to describe the different laws of sacrifices. A distinction is made between sin offerings, burnt offerings, and homage offerings, with each following its own process. God then commands the priests to make another offering that ordains themselves in their positions.
FULL SUMMARY
HAFTARAH SUMMARY

Featured Commentary

Parashat Tzav: Bread in Abundance

Why does the Torah require that a gratitude offering be accompanied by loads of bread?

By Shira Hecht-Koller

More on this Torah Portion

Rabbi Marisa Elana James

In Praise of Public “Guilt Offerings”

Because asking for forgiveness is a holy act.

Rabbi Nancy Kreimer

Finding Meaning in Ancient Rituals

How the sacrificial system lives on.

Rabbi Dorothy A. Richman

From Guilt to Action

The sacrificial system teaches that coming nearer to God requires coming nearer to each other.

Steven Exler

Challenging Isolation

Too much isolation set Nadav and Avihu over the edge.

Rabbi Shimon Felix

Kosher For Passover And All Year Round

The prohibition against leavened bread for most Temple grain offerings imbues the Temple with the spirit of freedom all year round.

Rabbi Robert S. Leib

Lost and Found: From Obsolete Ritual to Personal Responsibility

The complex rules of thanksgiving offering ensured that it enabled the public participation of the broader community in thanking God.

Gilah Langner

Tending Flames, Seeing Faces

Like the fire that always burned on the altar, we should make sure that our inner fires of compassion always inspire us to work for justice.

Rabbi Lawrence S. Zierler

The Obligation To Give Thanks

The thanksgiving offering teaches us the importance of thanking God as a communal sharing of faith and appreciation.

Rabbi Neal J. Loevinger

Service As Its Own Reward

Zealousness regarding the elevation offering reminds us to be careful in our service of God and others.

Rabbi Avi Weinstein

Sometimes Not Only An Animal Was Sacrificed

Our spiritual leaders must always remember that the sanctity of human life should never supercede devotion to God.

Dvora Weisberg

Private And Communal Judaism

Despite the occasional need for private expressions of Judaism, we must remember our connection to the larger public community.

Rabbi Dr. Bradley Shavit Artson

Ears, Thumbs And Toes

The ceremony installing the priests teaches the importance of consecrating the entire body for sacred service.

Rabbi Moshe Becker

Constantly Feeding Our Internal Spark

Our books, texts, and traditions bring new meaning to us at different stages of our life.

Rachel Farbiarz

Transparent Leadership

The metamorphosis of Aaron and his sons into priests was a process wholly transparent to the nation.

Rabbi Ismar Schorsch

Revisiting the Fire Offerings of Israel

Modern commentary and interpretation may ease some discomfort surrounding ancient liturgy.

Vanessa Ochs

Parashat Tzav: The Virtues of Thanksgiving

If you have had a loved one who died while in hospice care, you may have received the same little ...

Rabbi Moshe Becker

Humilty vs. Insecurity

There's a perpetual tension between fostering a strong sense of self in our children and ensuring that they don't become self-centered and egotistical.

Rabbi Dianne Cohler-Esses