Dear TBZ Community:
My therapist often reminds me not to make generalizations, avoiding words like “always” (“This person always does x”) or “never”(“this person never says y”). Not only about others, but also about myself (“I always do…” or “I never say…”). For me, personally, it is a challenging practice to remind myself to pause before using those words, perhaps using different terms instead, such as “often,” “regularly,” “almost,” or “most of the time.” I can recognize that my perception of “always” and “never” might not always be accurate. But this week’s Torah portion has an explicit “always”! Is that possible?
Parshat Tzav is the second Torah portion in the book of Vayikra (Leviticus) and continues with the detailed explanations of the sacrifices (korbanot), this time focusing on the officiating priest roles.
אֵשׁ תָּמִיד תּוּקַד עַל־הַמִּזְבֵּחַ לֹא תִכְבֶּה
A perpetual fire shall be kept burning on the altar, not to go out
The commentaries on this verse very much focus on the idea that the fire of the altar should “always” be burning.
In a way the verse is repetitive: Why do we need the words אֵשׁ תָּמִיד (perpetual fire) and לֹא תִכְבֶּה (not to go out)? If it is perpetual, then of course it should not go out, it should be kept on, ALL THE TIME. The commentators explain that this means, even when traveling, even on Shabbat, even in impurity. ALL THE TIME. ALWAYS.
The opposite of what I try to work on, in the ways that I express myself.
One of the questions that has kept me occupied for the last several months is how I can hold onto hope and light, how I can be joyful, when we witness so much violence, despair, and fear. Especially when we can’t clearly see a solution ahead.
Last week, preparing for Purim, I had a really hard time imagining we could be joyful, but we did it. We were able to hold space for the pain and the challenges of the megillah reading and to the joy. As I wrote in last week’s Shabbat N’Kabla, I think of joy as a practice that reminds us not to lose hope, not to give up on ourselves, on humanity, nor on our capacity as human beings to do good, to heal a world that is so broken, where there is so much violence. It is easier to give up, to look away, but our tradition demands us not to give up. Joy is a reminder of what is possible, especially when it feels impossible.
We were able to do it, we were able to hold the complexity. And I did not take that for granted. In that way, even in the midst of darkness, we worked on keeping the fire of the altar burning and lighting our way.
לֹא תִכְבֶּה – do not put out the fire: I am reading it as do not give up, do not stop believing, do not stop trusting. Keep it going, as the commentators say, no matter how long a journey, no matter how dark the times, no matter how good the times.
אֵשׁ תָּמִיד – perpetual fire, ALL THE TIME. No matter how I feel, no matter how I am doing, and no matter how the world is doing.
At all times there is fire in the altar, at all times I work relentlessly to remind myself that God walks with me. And if the language of God doesn’t speak to you, perhaps this will resonate: At all times there is possibility, there is opportunity, there is blessing, even when I can’t see it, even when I can’t feel it.
It is more than just trust and belief. It is work. The priest had to do what they could to make sure the fire would not go out. We, too, have to do our part and that is the work that we are committed to. We might not be priests keeping the fire burning on the altar, but we are human beings doing our part, as individuals and as a collective community, making sure that we keep the fire burning, all the time.
Perhaps we have an exception to trying to avoid the “always” and “never” generalizations. Perhaps here we are asked to do our best, our part to keep the fire going on always (or as much as possible).
May this Shabbat bring blessings and consolation to all of you and your loved ones. May we find strength, courage, and patience, and open our hearts with generosity. May all those who are ill find healing.
And, may the hostages soon be returned to their families and friends, may the Israeli and Palestinian peace workers in the land continue their sacred work and not be deterred or turn away from the vision of peace and dignity for all.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rav Claudia