Parshas Tzav
I Made It Across the Ocean Safely! Thank You Hashem!
“If he brings it as thanksgiving offering…” (Vayikra 7:12)
Rabbi Yissocher Frand brings a beautiful insight from the Avudraham. When the chazan repeats the Shmoneh Esrei the congregation listens silently. They merely respond to each bracha by saying baruch hu uvaruch shmo, blessed be Hashem and blessed be his name, and amen. However, while the chazan says Modim, the congregation does say a prayer. Why is Modim different? The Avudraham says that for all the other blessings in the Shmoneh Esrei the chazan can represent us and say the blessings for us. However, nobody else can say ‘Thank you’ for us. Thanks, must come from ourselves.
Parshas Tzav introduces the laws of the Korban Todah, the Thanksgiving offering (Vayikra 7:12). Rashi explains that a Todah offering is brought by someone who experienced a personal miracle. Rashi lists four examples. One who traveled across an ocean or through a desert and safely reached his destination, one who was thrown in jail and then was released, or one who was seriously ill and then recovered.
Rav Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld makes an interesting point. Parshas Vayikra lists all the sacrifices that an individual may bring. However, the laws of the Korban Todah are left out. Why? Furthermore, Parshas Tzav discusses the details of the sacrifices, instructing the kohanim what to do. It is like an instruction book for the kohanim. Yer, surprisingly, this Parsha does talk about the Korban Todah. Why?
Rav Sonnenfeld further asks why Rashi uses the word “miracle” to describe the four circumstances that require one to bring a Korban Todah. Each of these situations may involve risk or danger but they are not miracles.
Truthfully, these examples are not open miracles. However, they, too, are miracles! They are examples of hidden miracles that Hashem performs behind the veil of Nature.
We take certain things for granted because we become accustomed to them but they are also miracles. The birth of a baby, being healed after an illness, and the ability to do successful heart surgery are truly miracles!
Pirkei Avos (5:5) lists several miracles that were a daily occurrence in the Beis HaMikdash. Two examples are that although flies are typically attracted to raw meat, flies were never attracted to the animals that were slaughtered as korbanos. Also, the wind never blew the smoke that rose from the Altar. The kohanim saw miracles constantly. When someone lives with miracles on a daily basis, he may get used to the miracles and may no longer appreciate them.
This, Rav Sonnenfeld says, explains why the Korban Todah is listed in Parshas Tzav. It is a reminder to the Kohanim who witness miracles on a daily basis and is to remind us that even frequent miracles and even acts of Nature are all miracles from Hashem. (Rabbi Yissocher Frand on Torah.org)
Rav Avrohom Pam zt”l says that nowadays, since we no longer have korbanos, when one is saved from any of the above-mentioned four circumstances, he says a bracha during the time that the Torah is read in shul בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ד’ אֱלֹקֵינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, הַגּוֹמֵל לְחַיָּבִים טוֹבוֹת, שֶׁגְּמָלַֽנִי כָּל טוֹב.. “Blessed is Hashem Who bestows good things upon the guilty and Who has bestowed every goodness upon me.”
When one is saved from a crisis that necessitates this bracha, he experiences goodness from Hashem. While he is in the midst of a crisis it is very hard for him to see the kindness of Hashem.
He must realize that the crisis itself is for his benefit even if he doesn’t immediately see its benefit! That is the meaning of the last part of the bracha, “Who has bestowed every goodness upon me.” The entire situation, not just the salvation from the crisis, was good for him.
For example, when a young child is given an injection to protect him from contracting a grave illness, he cries bitterly and often refuses to cooperate with the “bad” person who wants to prick him with a needle. He doesn’t understand that the pain will be temporary and the benefit will be long lasting. (Messages from Rav Pam by Rabbi Sholom Smith)
Ksav Sofer says a similar idea. There is a pasuk in Tehillim (50:2),” .זֹבֵחַ תּוֹדָה יְכַבְּדָנְנִי.” “One who offers a thanks offering, honors Me.” Midrash Rabbah (9:2) quotes Rabbi Huna who says in the name of Rabbi Acḥa that the Hebrew word,” יְכַבְּדָנְנִי “is written with an extra letter “nun”. That teaches us that we must give thanks for being saved from the crisis as well as giving thanks for the crisis itself because all that Hashem does is good. The crisis that Hashem put us in is either to awaken us to return from our evil deeds or to give us goodness through it.
The second part of the pasuk says, “and to one who sets out on the proper way I will show the salvation of G-d.” One who believes with his whole heart that the crisis was good for him and thanks Hashem for it, then Hashem will show him how goodness resulted from the crisis. (Yalkut Lekach Tov by Yaakov Yisroel Beifus)
Hashem loves each and every one of us so much! When Hashem saves us from a crisis or a dangerous situation, we must thank Hashem. Ideally, we should also thank Hashem for giving us the crisis, although that is very difficult to do. Everything that happens from Hashem is for our best!
If it happens it was willed by Hashem.
If it was from Hashem, then by definition it is good.
If it is good then I want it.
So thank you Hashem!
