Tzav:

Leviticus 6:1-8:36

OVERVIEW

The Torah addresses Aaron and his sons to teach them additional laws relating to their service. The ashes of the korban olah -- the offering burnt on the altar throughout the night -- are to be removed from the area by the kohen after he takes off his special linen clothing. The olah is brought by someone who forgot to perform a positive commandment of the Torah. The kohen retains the skin. The fire on the altar must be kept constantly ablaze. The korban mincha is a meal offering of flour, oil and spices. A handful is burned on the altar and a kohen eats the remainder before it becomes leaven. The Parsha describes the special korbanos offered by the kohen gadol each day, and by Aaron's sons and future descendants on the day of their inauguration. The chatas, the korban brought after an accidental transgression, is described, as are the laws of slaughtering and sprinkling the blood of the asham guilt-korban. The details of shelamim, various peace korbanos, are described, including the prohibition against leaving uneaten until morning the remains of the todah, the thanks-korban. All sacrifices must be burned after they may no longer be eaten. No sacrifice may be eaten if it was slaughtered with the intention of eating it too late. Once they have become ritually impure, korbanos may not be eaten and should be burned. One may not eat a korban when he is ritually impure. Blood and chelev, forbidden animal fats, are prohibited to be eaten. Aaron and his sons are granted the breast and shank of every korban shelamim. The inauguration ceremony for Aaron, his sons, the Mishkan and all of its vessels is detailed.

Overview courtesy of Rabbis Newman and Sinclair, Ohr Somayach