In this week’s parsha, Parshas Tzav, the Torah continues to instruct us regarding the role of the kohanim in the Mishkan, as well as the avodas korbanos (sacrificial rites and services) that they perform. There are further halachos delineated regarding korbanos (such as pigul - korbanos brought with erroneous intent; forbidden fats and blood; and laws of tumah and taharah in the realm of korbanos). The Torah tells us about the service that was performed during the seven days of milu’im (inauguration of the Mishkan), which culminates in next week’s parsha, Shemini, with the 8th day of the chanukas ha’Mishkan, on Rosh Chodesh Nissan.
In this week’s parsha, in regard to the mizbayach ha’necho'shes (the copper altar where the animal sacrifices were brought) the pasukim tell us:
וְהִקְטִיר ,הָעֹלָה עָלֶיהָ וְעָרְַ ;בַּבֹּקֶר בַּבֹּקֶר עֵצִים הַכֹּהֵן עָלֶיהָ וּבִעֵר ,תִכְבֶּה לֹא בּוֹ-תּוּקַד הַמִּזְבֵּחַ-עַל וְהָאֵשׁ הַשְּׁלָמִים חֶלְבֵי עָלֶיהָ - And the fire on the altar shall burn on it; it shall not go out. The kohen shall kindle wood upon it every morning, and upon it, he shall arrange the burnt offering and cause the fats of the peace offerings to [go up in] smoke upon it; תִכְבֶּֽה לֹ֥א עַל־הַמִּזְבֵּ֖חַ תּוּקַ֥ד תָּמִ֛יד אֵ֗שׁ - A continuous fire shall burn upon the altar; it shall not go out (Vayikra 6:5-6).
Chazal teach that even though a heavenly fire descended onto the pyre on the top of the altar, nevertheless, it was a mitzvah for the Kohanim to light the fire themselves, and ensure it was never extinguished. At the time of travel, the fire was covered with a special cover (like an overturned pot) and it crouched beneath the cover like a crouching lion. It was truly a fire that was never extinguished. In fact, the Sages teach us in Pirkei Avos that in the Beis Ha’Mikdash, one of the ten miracles was that הַמַּעֲרָכָה עֲצֵי שֶׁל אֵשׁ גְשָׁמִים כִבּוּ וְלֹא - the rains never extinguished the fire of the altar pyre (Mishna Avos 5:5). The Bartenura (ibid) explains why this was such a great miracle: מְגֻלֶּה בְּמָקוֹם שֶׁהַמִּזְבֵּחַ פִּי עַל וְאַף .הַמַּעֲרָכָה עֲצֵי אֵשׁ גְשָׁמִים כִּבּוּ וְלֹא הָיָה, even though the altar for animal sacrifices was in an open (‘revealed’) space, and not under an awning or cover, nevertheless, the rains did not extinguish the flame.
The Rambam (ibid) similarly explains:
אש הגשמים מכבין היו לא זה כל ועם לשמים מגולה והיה ... העזרה באמצע היה שהמזבח ידעת כבר הקרבנות מן העולה העשן עמוד את הרוח מפזר היה ולא המערכה - it is known that the altar was in the middle of the courtyard, and it was open under the heavens, and despite this, the rains did not extinguish the altar fire on the pyre, and the wind did not disturb or displace the column of smoke that rose from the sacrifices.
B”H we all know the strength of winter rains in Jerusalem, so when we contemplate the winter weather, we can truly better appreciate how great this miracle was. In the biggest downpour and torrential winter rains, the fire was never extinguished and the smoke never blew in any direction other than upwards! This is an open and revealed miracle.
