This week's Torah portion, called Tzav (from the same root as "mitzvah," meaning, "command") speaks of sacrifices and offerings. It contains one of the most inspirational verses in all of Torah—but only if we read the text not on the surface, but deeply. “A perpetual fire shall be kept on the altar, not to go out,” the Torah says (Lev. 6:13).
Our Rabbis found this precept puzzling: why bother keeping the fire going night and day, day and night, even at times when no one was offering a sacrifice? Was this not a waste of firewood, a possible fire hazard, an multiplication of ash pollution—not to mention a burden on the priests who had to monitor the flame minute by minute?
From this puzzle they deduced an enlightening answer. What is the altar on which the fire must be kept burning perpetually? The altar is the human heart, and the fire is the passion of the soul. Even in the darkest hours, our people have kept burning a flame of hope and a passion for life.
Perhaps that explains the following story. A Hasidic teacher was once asked the one thing he would save if his house were on fire. He answered, “The fire!” because only the fire was irreplaceable. This teacher illuminated a truth: the fire of our passion that ignites an impulse to sacrifice on behalf of others is indispensable to what Judaism calls a meaningful life.
So now I ask for your comments: What is the "fire" that animates and gives purpose to your life? How does your Judaism kindle the spark of meaning and dedication within your day-to-day and week-to-week routine?
I am eager for you to share.
L'Shalom and Happy Studying!
Rabbi Jonathan Blake
PS: If you look to the left-hand margin of this blog page, you'll find a new "Ask the Rabbi" box. You can use this module to submit questions anonymously that I will receive and answer (choosing which questions to answer at my discretion). I look forward to hearing what's on your mind.
-JEB
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