MARCH 30 • 2023 | 73

T

his week, we read from 
the book of Leviticus, 
which is often considered 
one of the more chal-
lenging books of Torah. 
Leviticus is made up 
largely of very detailed 
explanations regarding 
sacrifice and ritual. These 
particulars surrounding 
ritual sacrifice are harder 
for us to personally relate 
to. After all, the spiritual 
practices of the ancient 
Israelites do not resemble 
what our Judaism looks 
like today. So, what can 
we learn from these 
chapters of Torah?
At the very beginning of Tzav, 
we read, “… the burnt offering 
itself shall remain where it is 
burned upon the alter all night 

until morning, while the fire 
on the altar is kept going on 
it”(Leviticus 6:2). Just a few verses 
later, this point is repeated, 
“
A fire shall always be kept 
burning on the altar, it shall 
not go out”(Leviticus 6:6). If 
we examine these verses at 
a surface level, we learn that 
the ancient Israelite priests, 
led by Aaron, are responsi-
ble for literally keeping the 
fire going at all times, con-
suming the sacrifice and 
cleansing the altar. 
But how might we 
understand on a deeper 
level? How might we find 
personal meaning and rele-
vance?
Following the destruction of 
the Temple, our ancient rabbis 
created new rituals to replace 

sacrifice. Daily prayer and study 
took the place of obsolete sac-
rifice as the Jewish community 
sought to find new experiences 
to connect and to worship.
Rabbi Menachem M. 
Schneerson, the Lubavitcher 
Rebbe, expanded on this, 
teaching that the fire burning 
constantly on the altar is refer-
ring not only to the duty of the 
priest to keep the altar of the 
sanctuary burning but also to 
the way in which one practices 
Jewish tradition. We can keep 
our fire burning, according to 
Rabbi Schneerson, by following 
God’s commandments, living a 
Jewish life filled with tzedakah 
and Torah study, and worshiping 
God.
How do we nurture our 
spiritual side, stoking that fire? 
For some of us, it is regular 
prayer, for others, community. 
For some, it is acts of loving 
kindness; and for still others, it 
is deep study. Whatever it is for 
each of us, Rabbi Shefa Gold 

explains, that fire must be kept 
burning because, “without the 
constancy of this fire, all of our 
sacrifices, our prayer and our 
holy work would cease. This 
fire on the altar of our hearts is 
the prerequisite for all spiritual 
practice.
”
This time of year, as we are 
about to celebrate Passover, is 
always a good time to reexamine 
what traditions and rituals will 
keep our fires going.
Tzav commands not only the 
priests to physically maintain the 
fire on the altar, but also reminds 
each of us that we must find 
a way to keep our innermost 
fire alive: nurturing, teaching, 
sharing, lighting and fueling our 
Jewish rituals and traditions, 
not only for each of us in this 
moment, but for passing them 
along to the next generation so 
they, too, have the opportunity 
to keep the fire burning. 

Rabbi Arianna Gordon is the director 

of education and lifelong learning at 

Temple Israel in West Bloomfield.

TORAH PORTION
SPIRIT

Our Spiritual Fire

Rabbi Ariana 
Gordon

Parshat Tzav: 

Leviticus 

6:1-8:36; 

Malachi 

3:4-24.

Friday, April 14
Shabbat Dinner & Evening Lecture: The High 
Price of Jewish Statehood: Is Israel Really 
Worth the Cost?
6:00 p.m. T.G.I.S. Service

7:00 p.m. Dinner (registration required)
Dinner Cost: $20 members | $30 not a member yet

8:00 p.m. Lecture with Dr. Gordis

 
Saturday, April 15 
9:30 a.m. Shabbat morning
 D’var Torah: John Lennon vs. The Bible – 
Today’s Battle between Universalism and 
Particularism

12:00 p.m. Shabbat Lunch
(free, registration required)

1:00 p.m. Shabbat afternoon 
The American Jewish Assault on Jewish 
Peoplehood – Is it Really Happening? 
Why? 

www.shaareyzedek.org

Sponsored by The Morris and
Beverly Baker Foundation 

Registration required for meals. 
Scan the QR code or visit 
tinyurl.com/yckjyks4

For additional information
call (248) 357-5544. 

SCHOLAR IN
RESIDENCE 

April 14 & 15, 2023

Dr. Daniel Gordis 

