Parshas Tzav (Shabbos HaGadol) 5786
- Torah Tavlin
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
זאת תורת העלה הוא העלה על מוקדה על המזבח ... ואש המזבח תוקד בו (ו-ב)
Medrash Tanchuma writes: “The Bais HaMikdash and Tziyon will not be rebuilt until a Korban Olah is brought.” This is difficult to understand; how can a Korban be brought if there is no Mizbeach? R’ Yoel Teitelbaum zt”l, the Divrei Yoel, brings another interesting Chazal. R’ Yosi Ben Kisma’s students asked him when Moshiach would come. He answered simply, "זאת תורת העולה". What is the meaning of this response, and what is unique about the Olah that it is singled out?
The Gemara in Zevachim teaches (90b) that a person who is obligated in both a Chatas and an Olah, brings the Chatas first. Regarding a source that implies the Olah precedes, the Gemara concludes: "למקראה הקדימה הכתוב", in the order of reading, the Olah comes first. Rashi explains that in the סדר הקריאה, the parsha of the Olah is taught before that of the Chatas. Tosfos raises a difficulty with this and leaves it unresolved. The Satmar Rav offers a penetrating explanation to this question and says that the Olah atones for improper thoughts, failures of the heart and mind, while the Chatas addresses sinful actions. But how can one know that his Chatas offering is accompanied by actual and genuine remorse? The answer is that before one brings the Chatas, he must first learn and internalize the message of the Olah. Even if the Olah is offered second in practice, its parsha must be absorbed first, ensuring true inner Teshuva.
In Galus, this idea becomes foundational. A person’s focus should be on the pain of the Shechinah. How then, did Anshei Knesses HaGedolah institute so many personal bakashos in tefillah? Because these requests are meant to be a means through which we can better serve Hashem and ultimately bring the Geulah. This is the message of "זאת תורת העולה". When a person refines not only his actions but his thoughts and intentions, aligning his פנימיות with a sincere yearning for redemption, he creates the conditions for Moshiach. In this sense, learning the Parshas Olah becomes the prerequisite to the final redemption and is equivalent to bringing a korban itself. As Pesach approaches, let us truly desire to do the Mitzvos with the Beis Hamikdash.