אש תמיד תוקד על המזבח לא תכבה
“Fire shall be kept continually on the mizbayach; it shall not go out.” (Vayikra 6:6)
In the beginning of this week’s parsha, the Torah commands us to ensure that a permanent fire burns on the mizbayach, and adjures us to prevent it from being extinguished. The Medrash (Bamidbar Rabbah 4:17) adds that this obligation applied even when the Jewish people were traveling in the wilderness. What was the purpose of requiring a fire to burn on the mizbayach while the nation was in transit?
Rabbi Chaim Zvi Senter posits that the flame on the mizbayach represents the fire of spirituality that burns within every Jew. In ruling that the fire must continue burning on the mizbayach even while traveling, the Medrash is also symbolically teaching us that even when we are in a state of flux, we must take care to ensure that our internal fire for Divine service remains lit and does not become extinguished.
Rabbi Senter adds that Parshas Tzav is traditionally read just before Pesach, at a time when people often go away to family or hotels for Yom Tov, and when yeshiva bochurim are on bein ha’zmanim [intersession]. Even those who are not physically travelling still have different schedules and responsibilities than they are accustomed to. At such times, when we are out of the comfort of our familiar routines, we should remain cognizant of our obligation to keep the spiritual fire within us burning bright. (R’ Ozer Alport)
