By Rabbi Joshua Dorsch
SAN DIEGO –In our Torah portion this week, Tzav , the priests are instructed how to perform their sacrificial duties. In verse five, they are told that the fire on the altar needs to always be kept burning and that it must never be extinguished. Nevertheless, we are told again, in verse six, that the fire needs be burning continuously on the altar, and that it may never go out.
At first glance, these two verses appear to be unnecessarily repetitive and redundant. But, the commentators assure us that nothing in the bible is redundant, every word is necessary to teach us something important. The biblical commentator, Ibn Ezra, suggests that the repetition is for emphasis. It stresses the importance that fire stays lit. Rashi, offers another interpretation. He suggests that the second time the fire is mentioned isn’t actually referring to the burning flame, but rather the priest’s responsibility to watch it, tend to it, and ensure that it continuously stays lit.
I agree with both of them. For me, the fire represents Jewish tradition and Jewish ritual, which is at the center of most of what we do together as a community. As important as it may be to all of us that the fire keeps burning and never goes out, if we don’t continuously tend to it, actively watch it, and keep feeding it, we have only ourselves to blame if it goes out. We may take for granted that the fire of things most important to us will always be there. But unless we emphasize the importance of them, unless we continuously tend to them, we are at risk at seeing them extinguish.
I hope that this Shabbat and beyond, we continue to take our responsibility to keep our fire burning bright seriously. That way, the things that are the most important to us, will continue to burn bright, for generations to come.
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Rabbi Dorsch is spiritual leader of Tifereth Israel Synagogue in San Diego. He may be contacted via joshua.dorsch@sdjewishworld.com
Amen