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Parshat Tzav

This Week's Parsha: Tzav

SUMMARY OF PARSHAT TZAV The parsha opens with Hashem commanding Aharon and his sons to offer a special burnt offering (Korban) twice each day. The morning sacrifice “Korban Tamid Shel Shachar” was the first sacrifice placed on the Altar each day, while the afternoon one - “Korban Tamid Shel Bein Ha’arbayim” was the last one. Both were offered in the name of Bnei Yisrael.

Hashem gave Aharon more instructions about the special daily meal offering. It was to consist of fine flour and baked upon a griddle. The offering was to be mixed with oil and broken into pieces. Half of this mixture was to be offered in the morning; the other half in the evening.

Hashem then explained the other offerings more fully to Moshe who in turn taught them to Aharon and his sons, He also commanded the Jews that the fat of oxen, sheep, and goats slaughtered and used for sacrificial purposes was forbidden to be used as food. Blood of animals and birds was also forbidden as food.

The parsha closes with the procedure of the consecration of Aharon and his sons into the Holy work of the Mishkan.

Questions:

1.   What is the name of the parsha?

2.   How many times a day were Aharon and his sons commanded to offer a special sacrifice?

3.   When Moshe heard a commandment, to whom was he supposed to pass it on?

4.   What is the mitzvah of the week?

5.   What is in a Mezuzah?

6.   How many Mezuzot do you have in your house?

Answers:

1.   This week’s parsha is Tzav.

2.   They were commanded to offer these offerings twice a day.

3.   Moshe was to pass it on to Aharon and his sons.

4.   The Mitzvah is to have a Mezuzah at the entrance of your home.

5.   Inside each Mezuzah is a parchment with two pieces of Shema written on it.

6.   Each child should have his/her own response.

Mitzvah of the Week:

Likboah Mezuzah B’Petach Habayit - It is a mitzvah to have a Mezuzah at the entrance to your home. The source of this mitzvah is in Devarim and said in Shema everyday “Uchtavtem Al Mezuzot Beitecha Uve’esharecha” - “And you shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates”. In a Mezuzah there is a piece of parchment that has two things written on it both easily recognized from the Shema. It says “Shema” and the paragraph of “Vehaya Im Shamoah”. The Mezuzah is used as a reminder to us, every time we walk through a doorway, that Hashem is with us and we should remember our love for Him. It reminds us of Hashem’s everlasting presence and that what is in our world today does not endure forever - only Hashem does.

The Parsha summary and questions are from: 

The Karasick Department of Synagogue Services of the Orthodox Union

Wed, April 30 2025 2 Iyyar 5785