Tzav: Torah & Gratitude

One of the benefits of shelter-in-place is that I’m actually reading the books in my library. I’ve made a Shabbat morning habit of sitting with a cup of coffee and reading the weekly teachings of Rabbi Shai Held. I have found these little moments of Torah so grounding and astonishingly relevant. 

This week, in Parshat Tzav, we read the minutiae of the many types of offerings. These offerings are today’s equivalent of us going to synagogue to pray, gathering for festive meals, and learning together. In other words, religious life isn’t designed to be done alone and requires others to partake. However, in the Talmud, we find a teaching from Rava, that quotes this week’s portion: “One who occupies themself with the study of Torah needs neither burnt offering, nor meal-offering, nor sin offering, nor guilt offering. R. Yitzchak asked: What is the proof for such a statement? And replied: Scriptures saying ‘This Torah for a sin offering’ (Lev 6:18) and ‘This Torah for a guilt offering’ (Lev 7:1)” (B. Menachot 110a).

The ancient rabbis teach that in the future, all sacrifices will be abolished, except for the thanksgiving sacrifice. Perhaps then, substituting Torah for our in-person habits but retaining our daily moments of gratitude, offer us guidance during our indefinite orders to shelter-in-place. Torah can offer us a connection to our people, while gratitude can maintain our connection with God.