Weekly Parsha

Mazal Tov to: Racuel Hessing e Alexandre Nigri.

Pray for Refuah Sheimah: Stephen Waczkiewicz (Shimon ben Sarah), Yossefa (Josie) "bat Sharon", Rafael ben Gladis and Esther Bracha "bat Sarah".

Continue Praying for: Teddy Welz, Miriam (Mariana) "bat Zulay", Adina (Heidi) "bat Sarah" and Yosefa (Josie) "bat Sharon".

Tzav

Leviticus 6:1 - 8:36

Tzav (צַו‎ — Hebrew for "command," the sixth word, and the first distinctive word, in the parashah).

This week's parashah (Torah portion) includes the laws of: the Burnt Offering, Meal Offering, High Priest's Offering, Sin Offerings, Guilt Offerings and Peace Offerings. It concludes with the portions of the Peace Offerings which are allotted to the Priests and the installation ceremony of the Priest for serving in the Sanctuary.

"This is the law of the burnt offering." (Leviticus 6:2).

The verse can alternately be read as: "This" is the principle of the arrogant person (the one who looks upon himself as -- in the Hebrew, "haOlah" -- an exalted person.) The arrogant person constantly demands "This!" He wants things to be done his way, immediately and without consideration of the needs of others.

An arrogant person's thoughts are focused only on what he or she wants. He is totally self-centered and inconsiderate of others. This trait causes much strife in interpersonal relationships. If two people in a relationship both demand that things must be their way, they will quarrel all the time. If such a person finds someone who is submissive to him, he will get his way, but at the heavy price of causing another human being pain and anguish.

What to do?

All of us have a certain degree of arrogance in us. Be aware of the needs and feelings of others. Be willing to compromise on your demands of how things should be. You need not always give in to others. However, when you take someone else's needs into consideration, you gain spiritually more than just having your demands met.

My people were silenced for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you from being a priest to me; seeing that you have forgotten the Torah of your G-d, I, too, will forget your children. Hosea 4:6

Forget your children: For those who stood on Mt. Sinai offered their children as surety for their parents to keep the Torah (Law/Commandments).

The more they have increased, the more they have sinned against Me; I will (therefore) exchange their honor for shame. Hosea 4:7

The more they have sinned against me: As they multiplied and increased, so they continued to sin.(Hebrew: כֵן חָטְאוּ.) So is the Hebrew expression in numerous places: “As they afflicted them, so they increased (Hebrew:. אוֹתו ֹכֵן יִרְבֶּה כֲּאֲשֶׁר יְעַנוּ);” “As they called them so they turned away from them, (Hebrew: קָרְאוּ לָהֶם כֵּן הָלְכוּ מִפְּנֵיהֶם Hosea 11:2),” the more the prophets called after them to rebuke them, so they ran away from them.

Arrogant people think they are self-sufficient and don't need to go to the temple to study, learn and congregate. Ask your rabbi for guidance and he will help you reach levels of wisdom, knowledge and understanding. Arrogance is weakness disguised as strength. 

Study and practice the laws of G-d. Feed your soul with holiness. Appearance without substance is meaningless.

Shabbat Shalom

R. Tank

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Rabbi Tank is a professor at American Jewish College where he teaches classes on Talmud, Jewish History and Contemporary Jewish Law. Rabbi Tank is dedicated to finding modern usefulness and meaning in ancient wisdom texts and he is happy to provide spiritual, cultural, social and educational programming for communities around the world. 

Rabbi Tank was educated in Chabad Yeshivas in New York and Miami. He has got a Degree in Biblical Archeology from Bar Ilan University and a Harvard Degree in Judaic Studies. He got his Bachelor's in Business Administration and he also earned a degree in International Economic Development from the University of Oxford. 

Rabbi Tank works with active involvement in peace negotiations and humanitarian relief operations an he is a Member of the National White House Faith Leaders, an Executive Office of the President of the United States.

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