Tzav 2026/10 Nissan 5786
This week's parsha of Tzav discusses the commandments related by Moses to Aaron regarding the sacrifices that the Israelites would be giving in the Tabernacle (and later the two Temples). The Midrash to this parsha has one of my favorite stories that also teaches us a relevant contemporary message and refers to Passover as well.
The Torah says, “This is the offering…” (Verse 6:13) regarding the sacrifices brought by Aaron and his sons at their inauguration of service. The word “this” indicates a unique or unusual event. In fact, for regular Cohanim (priests) this offering was only brought on the day of their inaugural service. So why learn about something that will not happen again? Why continue to discuss offerings we do not bring today?
The story presented by the Midrash explains how a wealthy Lady of status approached Rabbi Yose bar Chalafta and asked this same question in a related fashion. She asked him, “how many days did it take G-d to create the world?” Rabbi Yose bar Chalafta answered “Six!” So, she then asked, “if He was done in six days, what has He been doing since then?”
Rabbi Yose bar Chalafta answered “matchmaking.” The lady responded sarcastically, “why I can do that” so she took a thousand of her servants and a thousand maidservants set them up in random pairs and sent them home as husbands and wives. But Rabbi Yose bar Chalafta warned her, that it may not seem like much but making a successful match is more difficult than “splitting the Reed Sea.”
The next day a thousand men and a thousand women swarmed back to the Lady’s palace. They were shouting and fighting and were unanimously begging for divorces. At that point she had to recognize the difficulty of the task. Rabbi Yose bar Chalafta then quoted for her (Psalms 68:7) “G-d settles the solitary into a family, He releases those bound in fetters”, even sometimes against their will (see the common “enemies to lovers” romance trope).
Maharal goes deeper with this story, describing her challenge as questioning G-d’s continued relevance in the world. The answer is that G-d maintains us through everyday miracles like love. Just like the waters of the Reed Sea, they can be split apart but their natural state is one of unity. Passover season is a time of celebration of love and family, unity of the Jewish people and interfaith friendships based on freedom and justice. When we recognize the continued role of G-d in our daily lives it is then that we can merit the ultimate redemption, may it come speedily in our days.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Josh
Note: There will be no Parsha Power next week in honor of Passover when we have a special reading instead.
The Torah says, “This is the offering…” (Verse 6:13) regarding the sacrifices brought by Aaron and his sons at their inauguration of service. The word “this” indicates a unique or unusual event. In fact, for regular Cohanim (priests) this offering was only brought on the day of their inaugural service. So why learn about something that will not happen again? Why continue to discuss offerings we do not bring today?
The story presented by the Midrash explains how a wealthy Lady of status approached Rabbi Yose bar Chalafta and asked this same question in a related fashion. She asked him, “how many days did it take G-d to create the world?” Rabbi Yose bar Chalafta answered “Six!” So, she then asked, “if He was done in six days, what has He been doing since then?”
Rabbi Yose bar Chalafta answered “matchmaking.” The lady responded sarcastically, “why I can do that” so she took a thousand of her servants and a thousand maidservants set them up in random pairs and sent them home as husbands and wives. But Rabbi Yose bar Chalafta warned her, that it may not seem like much but making a successful match is more difficult than “splitting the Reed Sea.”
The next day a thousand men and a thousand women swarmed back to the Lady’s palace. They were shouting and fighting and were unanimously begging for divorces. At that point she had to recognize the difficulty of the task. Rabbi Yose bar Chalafta then quoted for her (Psalms 68:7) “G-d settles the solitary into a family, He releases those bound in fetters”, even sometimes against their will (see the common “enemies to lovers” romance trope).
Maharal goes deeper with this story, describing her challenge as questioning G-d’s continued relevance in the world. The answer is that G-d maintains us through everyday miracles like love. Just like the waters of the Reed Sea, they can be split apart but their natural state is one of unity. Passover season is a time of celebration of love and family, unity of the Jewish people and interfaith friendships based on freedom and justice. When we recognize the continued role of G-d in our daily lives it is then that we can merit the ultimate redemption, may it come speedily in our days.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Josh
Note: There will be no Parsha Power next week in honor of Passover when we have a special reading instead.
