REFLECTIONS ON PARSHAT TZAV 5786 – AS G-D COMMANDED

בס”ד

Integrating Torah into one’s life through reflection and conversation can be an incredibly fun and engaging experience. It’s a journey of discovery, where ancient wisdom and timeless teachings come to life in our daily experiences. Through reflection, we have the opportunity to dive deep into the rich tapestry of Torah, extracting profound insights and lessons that resonate with our modern lives. The joy lies in the ‘aha’ moments, those instances when a Torah verse or story suddenly connects with our personal challenges, aspirations, and values. And when we engage in conversations about Torah with others, it becomes an interactive exploration, where diverse perspectives and interpretations enhance our understanding. These dialogues often spark excitement and intellectual curiosity, making the learning process both enjoyable and fulfilling. Torah becomes a vibrant and dynamic part of our lives, offering not just guidance but also a source of endless fascination, connection, and growth.

NOTE: Don’t feel obligated to go through every source or answer all the questions—unless you want to. Even one source, or one question will give you plenty of material for discussion and meditation. Enjoy this!

Some thoughts about Parshat Tzav

In the days of the yemei miluim, the inauguration of the Mishkan, we encounter a striking scene. Moses—who is not a Kohen—dresses Aaron and his sons, performs the offerings, and oversees every detail of the service:

“Then Moses brought Aaron and his sons and washed them with water… and he clothed him… and he placed the breastplate upon him… and he placed the turban on his head…” (Leviticus 8)

Moses acts as the one initiating the priests into their role, even though this role will not ultimately belong to him. He is, in a sense, performing a service that is not his permanent function.

This is not incidental. It reveals something essential about education and spiritual formation.

Before a person can be something, he must be trained into it.

Aaron and his sons do not simply step into the role of priesthood. They are shaped into it through a process—observing, receiving, and submitting to instruction. Moses becomes the model, the teacher, the one who embodies the service before they themselves perform it.

This is the educational imperative: readiness is not assumed; it is cultivated.

But if we look more closely at the text, an even deeper principle emerges. Throughout this entire section, one phrase repeats again and again:

“As the L-RD commanded Moses.”

And at the conclusion:

“And Aaron and his sons did all the things which the L-RD commanded through Moses.”

This repetition is not stylistic. It is the central message.

The most important aspect of their training was not technical mastery. It was not creativity. It was not even spiritual feeling.

It was fidelity.

To do the avodah exactly as G-d commanded.

This is a difficult idea for modern ears. We tend to associate spiritual life with self-expression, intuition, or personal meaning. Yet here, at the moment when Divine service is first established, the Torah emphasizes something else entirely:

Alignment with the will of G-d.

Moses does not improvise. Aaron does not innovate. The entire process is defined by obedience to instruction. The greatness of the moment lies precisely in this—human beings subordinating their own instincts to a higher command.

There is also something deeply humbling here. Moses, the greatest of prophets, takes on a role that is temporary and not his own. He prepares others for a position he himself will not hold. This, too, is part of the lesson. True leadership is not about occupying the role, but about ensuring that the role is fulfilled correctly.

For Noahides, this idea carries powerful relevance.

While the detailed service of the Mishkan belongs to Israel, the underlying principle applies universally. The relationship with G-d is not built on inventing our own systems or reshaping reality according to personal preference. It is built on recognizing that there is a Divine will—and that our task is to align ourselves with it.

This is not a limitation. It is the condition for meaning.

A person may feel unworthy, unprepared, or distant. The instinct is often to wait—to feel ready before stepping forward. The Torah presents a different model. Readiness comes through doing. Through learning. Through submitting to a structure that precedes us.

And above all, through accepting that the measure of our actions is not whether they express us, but whether they reflect what G-d has asked of us.

May we be blessed to learn, like Aaron and his sons, to act “as G-d commanded”—and through that fidelity, to become the people we are meant to be.

Now, reflect on the following questions:

If spiritual life were primarily about self-expression, what would be lost—and what would be gained—compared to a life centered on doing as G-d commands?
Why might the Torah emphasize repetition of “as the L-RD commanded Moses” instead of highlighting the emotional or spiritual experience of the moment?
What is the difference between feeling ready for a role and becoming ready through disciplined action—and which one does the Torah seem to prioritize?
How does Moses preparing others for a role he will not occupy challenge our modern assumptions about leadership, success, and personal recognition?
In what ways do we subtly “improvise” in our own lives instead of aligning with what we know is right—and what would it look like to act with full fidelity instead?

Shabbat Shalom

By Rabbi Tani Burton

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