פָּרָשַׁת צַו

Parshat Tzav returns to the offerings of Parshat Vayikra, now as commands to Aharon and his sons, the kohanim (the priests) who perform them, and then installs them in their service. It opens with the olah (burnt offering) that burns on the mizbe'ach (the altar) all night, and the daily lifting of the ashes, which the kohen carries outside the camp: "A continual fire shall burn on the altar; it shall not go out. (eish tamid)" Then the law of the minchah (meal offering), eaten as matzah in the courtyard; the kohen's own minchah, half in the morning and half in the evening, burned entirely; the chatat (sin offering), whose earthenware cooking pot must be broken; the asham (guilt offering); and the shelamim (peace offering), including the todah (thanksgiving offering) with its loaves, and the prohibition of eating an offering after its time (piggul) or while tamei (ritually impure). Bnei Yisrael may never eat chelev (the forbidden fat) or blood, and the breast and right thigh of every shelamim belong to the kohanim forever.

As Hashem commanded in Shemot 29, before the whole congregation at the entrance of the Ohel Moed (the Tent of Meeting), Moshe washes Aharon and his sons, dresses Aharon in the bigdey kehunah (the priestly garments), anoints the Mishkan (the Tabernacle), the altar and Aharon, and dresses his sons. He offers the bull of the chatat, the ram of the olah and the ram of consecration, placing its blood on their right ear, thumb and big toe, and sprinkles the anointing oil and blood on them and their garments. For seven days, day and night, they stay at the entrance of the Ohel Moed, keeping Hashem's charge. The priesthood begins in complete obedience: Aharon and his sons do everything Hashem commanded through Moshe.