Chochmas Nashim: Tzav Pesachim Chazak
By: Suri Davis
The book of Leviticus which we are in the midst of reading every Shabbos, is not like the four other books of the Torah. The other books are occupies with human stories, and this book is focused on the building of the Tabernacle and the holy acts performed in the Tabernacle.
This week those learning Daf Yomi completed the Book on Pesachim, all matters having to do with Passover and the Passover seder. Fascinating. Havent learned about Pesach in depth since elementary school in T.A.G.
Why haven’t I gotten into Leviticus more, shy away from learning it in depth. Well, it appears to me that maybe the only ones who need to know about the building of the Tabernacle and its working on the high priests and Levites who performed in the holy Tabernacle and Temple. Well, as I was thinking, then maybe only women should learn the book of Nidah, and farmers the laws of planting and farming. Maybe law school could be reduced to one year, and a student could focus on and take only those classes which pertain to her field of practice, why be forced to learn a whole first year of law that does not pertain to your area of practice.
In other words, how do we value a well-rounded education. Those who subscribe to online news services want to hone in on those areas of news which interest them only, while the New York Times print edition forces the reader to at least look at the headlines and pictures to know of what is going on in the world, even if one chooses not to read further in depth about all that is contained in the entire paper. It is the theory behind a BA in humanities, to know something of everything.
The junction between Tzav and the building of the Tabernacle together with Pesachim which is people centric, is interesting in that it reveals different segments of Jewish history in Egypt and thereafter, and the commandment of the seder is to discuss this history with your children, very human. It is between man and G-d and man and man as played out by man under the supervision of G-d.
I just interrupted writing this shiur, texting my friend, Pam Weiner. We discussed seder plans and I told her once again that I will physically be alone for the second seder, bonding with the characters of the hagadah. She asked specifically with whom I bond, and as I texted, one part, the four questions, to the four sons who live within each one of us, the fun of the search of the afikomen, the brutal reality of V’hi sheamdah, that we are a nation born to threats to our existence in every generation, to the joint singing of hallel with men and women of the family, a joy we don’t get to enjoy when saying hallel all year long in shul, the warmth of the Shulchan aruch, the meal, and the fun in racing through Echad mi yodeah/who knows one, I know one, and the finishing line, chad gadyah, the story of the kid goat, quite fascinating.
I smile as I write. I smile remembering my grandparents seder table with my grandparents, aunts and uncles and cousins, and my own table with my children and, in past year, extended family and friends. They will be with me this year, as spirits to our table as Moses, the four sons, Rabbi Eliezer, Rabbi Tarfon, Elijah the prophet and the kid goat. Infusing my table, as the mirepoix that was infusing my friend, Chaya Glikman’s, fish chowder when I walked in to her home this week. What are ghosts but spirits which live on in us. Real comfort and inspiration.
Find your personal redemption.
Pray for communal redemption.
Inspire higher.
Chag sameach.
-Suri