Miller's Musings Parshas Tzav: The Road To Heaven; The Best Intentions

To receive Miller’s Musings as text and audio by WhatsApp or Email, text/WhatsApp 07531322970 or email [email protected]

This week’s Miller’s Musings is sponsored in memory of

  ???? ?????? ?? ?????

The Road To Heaven: The Best Intentions The Torah is full of worlds of hidden depths concealed within the most minute of nuances contained in its written words. Our Parsha begins with the rather innocuous statement “This is the law of the olah-offering.” It is an introduction to the regulations that govern the bringing of the burnt offerings and we are told that it teaches us a particular law with regard to these sacrifices. That even those that have for a number of reasons (though not all) become disqualified, once brought up onto the altar, they are not brought down from it. Despite their ineligibility, they remain there and are consumed by the holy fire. To understand the precise reason for this seeming anomaly may be beyond us, but perhaps we can endeavour to suggest the message that we can draw from this remarkable ruling.  

The olah was an offering that differed in its nature to the other sacrifices brought daily on the hallowed ground of the Mishkon and Beis Hamikdosh. Whereas with other offerings at least some of the meat of the animals brought were given to the Kohanim, or to whom the animal belonged, the olah’s meat was burnt entirely, an absolute dedication to Hashem. Maybe we can propose that one meaning for this allowance of even faulty offerings to be burnt on the altar, is an indication of how Hashem views parallel actions to this.  Perhaps Hashem is telling us that if our heart is pure and we are acting entirely for His sake, even defective, imperfect deeds will be accepted as if they were the most immaculate performance of the mitzvah. We must of course strive as much as we are able, to fulfil every detail and specification of His commandments to our best ability. We can never let apathy or simple laziness be that which allows us to forego the ideal manner of accomplishing Hashem’s directives.  But if we cannot do it entirely as we should or lack the knowledge to do it exactly as it should be, we must focus on ensuring we are doing it with all we are, for the sake of Heaven, because it is what He wants from us. If we can do that we may rest assured that He will accept it as complete.

Everything we are now doing now seems to be somewhat lacking. We may be accepting leniencies we would never have previously tolerated. We are performing mitzvos in ways we know are far from their optimum. And we may be embarking upon tasks that we feel inadequate or ill-prepared to carry out. Though all of these may be true, and the nature of our daily living, Shabbos and Yom Tov may not be as we would like, we must remember that it is Hashem who decided that this is how it must be. It is He that wants us to fulfil our mitzvos this way. We must undertake to fulfil each one of His precious tasks for us with joy and with the purest of intentions. With our minds and souls intent on connecting with Hashem in the best way that we can and in the most profound, deepest way that we are able to. If we do that we can hope that He will accept and cherish our offerings and return us to the heights we so desire and the total harmony only possible when He brings the whole world to its perfection.

*May we be pure of mind and soul this Shabbos in devotion to Him*

L'ilui Nishmas Leah bas Avrohom

If you would like to sponsor a week of Miller’s Musings l’ilui nishmas someone, for a Refuah Sheleima or to celebrate a Simcha please send a message to [email protected] or to 07531322970