Dvar Torah: Parashat Tzav

Inspired by Rabbi Eli Mansour

In Parashat Tzav, the Torah states that the fire on the Altar was constantly burning: “Don’t let the rain put out the fire” (Tzav 6:6). The Altar was positioned outdoors in the courtyard of the Bet Hamikdash. The Rabbis teach us that even when it would rain onto the Altar, a miracle would take place and the fire would remain burning. 

Practically speaking, there is a penetrating and applicable lesson that we can learn from this miracle. Essentially, if Hashem wanted the fire to continue burning, He could have just placed the Altar in a location that was protected from the rain. So, why, then, did Hashem choose to perform this miracle - that the fire would still burn during such a condition?

In this case, there is a very powerful answer to the question, which has a practical application to our lives: the flame on the Altar resembles the passion and enjoyment within each Jew that drives him to serve Hashem. In growing through Torah, it’s important for us to acknowledge that everything that Hashem selected to include in the Torah is there for us to learn from, it is there for a reason.  At times, there may be negative influences and downpours along the road which attempt to extinguish our flame. For this reason, the Torah specifically informs us that those negativities, such as the rain, are incapable of putting out the fire that constantly burns. 

Bz”H may we all have the strength to grow during the rain, and the motivation to nurture our individual flames.

Shabbat Shalom U’Mevorach!