tzav: heart in my mouth
sholem aleichem,
vayikra and tzav both lay out the laws of the sacrifice of shalom ("peace", "wellbeing", "repayment"). this is a sacrifice you might offer
in gratitude for surviving an ordeal (like getting out of prison)
to repay a vow to hashem that was already fulfilled
out of no obligation, just from a desire to offer to hashem
in vayikra, we read (JPS translation with some modifications)
וְאִם־זֶ֥בַח שְׁלָמִ֖ים קׇרְבָּנ֑וֹ אִ֤ם מִן־הַבָּקָר֙ ה֣וּא מַקְרִ֔יב אִם־זָכָר֙ אִם־נְקֵבָ֔ה תָּמִ֥ים יַקְרִיבֶ֖נּוּ לִפְנֵ֥י יְהֹוָֽה
If your offering is a sacrifice of shalom — if you offer of the herd, whether a male or a female, tamim you will bring it before hashem
this phrase "tamim you will bring it" is repeated frequently, and usually translated as "your offering must be without blemish." traditionally, this is understood as referring to the physical nature of the sacrifice.
of course, we've discussed recently that we ourselves are commanded to be tamim with hashem, which is interpreted more metaphorically: to dedicate our hearts to hashem alone, per the ramban, and believe that only hashem does all.
our ancestor yaakov is called tamim in the singular (my translation)
וַֽיִּגְדְּלוּ֙ הַנְּעָרִ֔ים וַיְהִ֣י עֵשָׂ֗ו אִ֛ישׁ יֹדֵ֥עַ צַ֖יִד אִ֣ישׁ שָׂדֶ֑ה וְיַעֲקֹב֙ אִ֣ישׁ תָּ֔ם יֹשֵׁ֖ב אֹהָלִֽים
when the young ones grew up, it happened that esav became a man who knows the hunt, a man of the field. and yaakov became a man of tam, who dwells in tents
how to understand this phrase "man of tam"?
one way is to contrast with the description of esav. in bereishis rabbah, the rabbis explain that "hunting" here does not mean literal hunting. it means that esav chose his words in order to manipulate: he did not present himself to others as he was, but how he wanted them to see him. esav was a master of control.
and yaakov?
rashi says
אֵינוֹ בָקִי בְכָל אֵלֶּה, כְּלִבּוֹ כֵּן פִּיו, מִי שֶׁאֵינוֹ חָרִיף לְרַמּוֹת קָרוּי תָּם
[yaakov] was not an expert in all this, as his heart was indeed his mouth. anyone that is not sharpwitted to deceive is called "tam"
one could debate whether yaakov actually fits this description, but i think it does tell us a bit more about this concept of tam or tamim: simple, straightforward, speaking the words that are in our hearts, not words intended to deceive or control.
in this week's parsha, we return to the sacrifice of shalom, and learn
דַּבֵּ֛ר אֶל־בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לֵאמֹ֑ר הַמַּקְרִ֞יב אֶת־זֶ֤בַח שְׁלָמָיו֙ לַיהֹוָ֔ה יָבִ֧יא אֶת־קׇרְבָּנ֛וֹ לַיהֹוָ֖ה מִזֶּ֥בַח שְׁלָמָֽיו
Speak to the Israelite people thus: The offering to hashem from a sacrifice of well-being must be presented by the one who offers that sacrifice of well-being to hashem
יָדָ֣יו תְּבִיאֶ֔ינָה אֵ֖ת אִשֵּׁ֣י יְהֹוָ֑ה אֶת־הַחֵ֤לֶב עַל־הֶֽחָזֶה֙ יְבִיאֶ֔נּוּ אֵ֣ת הֶחָזֶ֗ה לְהָנִ֥יף אֹת֛וֹ תְּנוּפָ֖ה לִפְנֵ֥י יְהֹוָֽה
[that person's] own hands shall present hashem's offerings by fire
a sacrifice of shalom must not only be tamim, it must offered directly by the person bringing the sacrifice, brought close to hashem by their own hands.
a peace offering, a wholeness offering, cannot come through intermediaries. it cannot be offered to manipulate, it is not offered to buy some future benefit but in gratitude, in repayment, for free. it must be tamim. it must be the truth of your heart brought forth directly with your own hands.
good shabbos,
ada
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