I admit it I am a bit of a clean freak. I am sure that it drives my wife a bit crazy. When I see stuff strewn around the house, or when I see my kids finish eating and just get up from the table and not carry in their dishes, or when something is that belongs to my wife or one of my children remains on the stairs with the owner walking by the item six to ten times a day; well, I get a bit exasperated. My personal favorite moments usually occur when I ask my children to clear their dinner plate, put away something of theirs that is on the floor or lying around in the family. First they respond, “In a minute” or “As soon as I’m done with this.” Then they get up and leave their dinner plate or their item right where it is not supposed to be. The attitude is unmistakable. Each one, in his or her own individual way, thinks that they don’t need to pick up after themselves because the cleaning lady would do it. I can hear my mother rhetorically asking me and my sister, “You think Mary Poppins’ just shows up and picks up after you?” Or I think of the time I spent with my grandfather on a trip to Japan about twenty six years ago. While in Tokyo he met with the corporate directors of a company that he had been dealing with for fifteen years. He had a very close relationship with the owner and all the big shots in this Japanese sportswear company. They spoke to my grandfather with such reverence. They spoke to me about my grandfather with words of awe and respect. They paid such close attention to his words. I was incredibly impressed because this was a side of my grandfather that I had never seen. I joked with my grandfather that as impressed as I was with the esteem in which he was held; it was hard for me to accept. After all this was the same man whom my grandmother “hocked” to throw out the garbage, which he did.
This week’s Parsha is Tzav. It is also Shabbat HaGadol, the Shabbat that immediately precedes Chag HaPesach, the Passover Holyday. Like last week’s Parsha, Parsha Tzav focuses upon Korbonot (offerings). While last week we read of God’s commanding Moshe to tell Aaron and his sons, this week we read of Moshe actually telling Aaron and his sons. This week we read about the actual sacrificing, the actual sprinkling, the actual burning and the actual donning of appropriate clothing. The Parshah concludes with instructions for Aaron and his sons to remain outside of the camp for seven days. These are the seven days required for spiritual and to some degree, physical preparation. The Priests must remain outside of the camp because they are in the process of purifying themselves for this extremely sacred and vital position, Kohen Gadol.
Besides Moshe, the Kohen Gadol was the most vital role within Israelite society. It was the Kohen Gadol that served as a vehicle for the common person to draw closer to God. When the common person or the king needed to atone, they would bring a sacrifice to God. However it was the Priest that had to check for blemishes. It was the priest that had to slaughter the animal in a very precise way. It was the priest that had to sprinkle the blood. Later on it was the priest who became the “spiritual advisor” to the king. Unlike any other position, the priesthood was based upon lineage and was promised by God to Aaron for eternity (or as long as there was a Temple). Yet as important as this was for the welfare of B’nai Yisroel’s relationship to God, the Priest was eternally reminded of the importance of humility within a leader. V’hotzi et a Hadeshen el Michutz La’Machaneh el Makom Tahor-“and he shall bring the ashes to the outside of the camp, to pure place (Lev 6:4).” Here is arguably the most important position within the community and he has to shlep the ashes out of the Mishkan. What’s even more amazing is what the Talmudic tractate Yoma teaches. The Talmud explains that the priests were so anxious to take out the ashes that a lottery system had to be introduced to pacify all those who wanted this “honor”. Anyone could have been commanded to take out the ashes. Why the Kohanim (the Priests)? Like all other aspects of the sacrificial process, the priests’ sole concern was the Temple and everything about the Temple. No task was below the priest. No aspect of the Temple remained untouched or unaffected by the Priest. The Sefer HaChinuch, a thirteenth century work enumerating and explaining all 613 Mitzvot explains that Terumat HaDeshen is a positive commandment. The priest removes these ashes daily, and in doing so, he is enhancing the Mizbeach (the altar) and beautifying it to the best of his ability. Rashi adds that the priest would wear old clothes and nice his daily Priestly Vestments or his Holiday Vestments to do this type of menial work. All agree that the Kohen was never thought to be too important for such a lowly task.
So what can we learn from Parsha Tzav, and the Priest’s most menial of tasks? First we learn just how vital it is for leadership, of any kind, to roll of its shirtsleeves and do some of the dirty work. After all, if leadership is unwilling to “to get dirty” for a greater purpose, then the purpose is not so great. Also if the leadership is unwilling “to get dirty”, why should anyone else “get dirty”? Effective leadership is not only about convincing others to act; it is about one’s observance of the same rule. No matter how important we think we are, we always should be reminded to take out the ashes. We need humility in order to remind us of where we fit in, and who we are. Possessing this humility gives us credibility when dealing with anyone. Possessing this humility reminds us of how we should treat others as well as how we wish to be treated. As make our final preparations for Pesach, as we rid our homes of chometz, as we cook, clean and make all the preparations for a festive and Kosher Pesach, we should be aware that we are not only preparing our homes, we are preparing ourselves. If we participate in the preparations, we appreciate the Pesach. If we participate in the preparations, we will invariably rid ourselves of our own chometz, our own arrogance. If we participate in the preparations, we remind ourselves that Judaism is about the individual fitting into something larger, the community, the Jewish people and our ancestors. Let us all remember that none of us are so important that we can’t throw out the trash. Hopefully my kids will begin to appreciate the importance of throwing out the garbage.
Peace & Chag Kasher v’ Sameach,
Rav Yitz
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