This Shabbat is Shabbat Ha Gadol, the Great Shabbat, the Shabbat which precedes Pesach. While we are sheltering in our homes, as a virus (a plague) stalks the land, it is important to remember that Pesach is our holiday of hope, that freedom will overcome slavery, that the God we believe in stands for justice. That a tyrant, no matter how powerful, ultimately will fall before the power of God and of humanity’s urge to be free and to live in dignity.
This week’s Torah portion goes over the ritual of sacrifice in great detail. Buried within the Torah portion is this line “A perpetual fire shall be kept burning on the altar, not to go out.” (Leviticus 6:6) The Temple no longer stands, and the altar is gone, but that perpetual fire continues to burn in the heart of every Jew.
It is the fire of hope. It is the message of Pesach, that human beings are meant to be free. That we are all connected and that we must all care for each other.
While we shelter in our homes, keep that fire burning and, if you can, join us for our Community Seder. We may be physically separated, but we can be spiritually connected. Keep the fire burning. Do not let it go out.
Tzav – Leviticus 6:1 – 8:36 – Parshat Ha Shavua for Shabbat, Saturday, April 4, 2020
April 3, 2020 by tbhrich •
This Shabbat is Shabbat Ha Gadol, the Great Shabbat, the Shabbat which precedes Pesach. While we are sheltering in our homes, as a virus (a plague) stalks the land, it is important to remember that Pesach is our holiday of hope, that freedom will overcome slavery, that the God we believe in stands for justice. That a tyrant, no matter how powerful, ultimately will fall before the power of God and of humanity’s urge to be free and to live in dignity.
This week’s Torah portion goes over the ritual of sacrifice in great detail. Buried within the Torah portion is this line “A perpetual fire shall be kept burning on the altar, not to go out.” (Leviticus 6:6) The Temple no longer stands, and the altar is gone, but that perpetual fire continues to burn in the heart of every Jew.
It is the fire of hope. It is the message of Pesach, that human beings are meant to be free. That we are all connected and that we must all care for each other.
While we shelter in our homes, keep that fire burning and, if you can, join us for our Community Seder. We may be physically separated, but we can be spiritually connected. Keep the fire burning. Do not let it go out.