‘עֹלַת תָּמִיד הָעֲשֻׂיָה בְּהַר סִינַי לְרֵיחַ נִיחֹחַ אִשֶּׁה לַה
A constant Burnt Offering, that was performed on Mount Sinai for a pleasing aroma, an offering by fire to G-d. (28:6)
The Torah relates to us the mitzvah of offering a daily sacrifice twice a day which is referred to as the Korban Tamid, the constant or daily sacrifice. In the verse cited above the Torah mentions that this sacrifice was offered at Mount Sinai during the dedication of the Mishkan (the Tabernacle). What are we to learn from this reference to offering this sacrifice on a regular basis?
The Talmud discusses the halachic derivations from this reference. Be’er Yosef offers an ethical lesson.
The first time this sacrifice was brought was during the dedication of the Mishkan. You can be sure it was brought with great excitement and intensity. But the more you repeat something the more routine it becomes and you eventually just do it by rote.
This was the challenge facing the offering of the Korban Tamid. As its name conveys, this sacrifice is done every single day of the year. The Torah therefore tells us to remember how this sacrifice was brought at Mount Sinai for the very first time. Think back to that excitement and bring it forward to the present.
This past Sunday we observed the fast of the 17th day of the Jewish month of Tammuz. We fast on this day to remember the tragedies that befell our people on this day as recorded in Mishna Taanit (4:6): “There were five events that happened to our ancestors on the seventeenth of Tammuz…. On the seventeenth of Tammuz: The tablets that Moshe brought down from Mount Sinai were shattered; The Tamid (Daily) sacrifice stopped being offered; The walls of the city were breached; And Apostomos burned the Torah, and placed an idol in the Temple.” The commentary of Tiferes Yisroel writes that the canceling of the Korban Tamid took place during the siege of Jerusalem during the period of the first Beis HaMikdash (the first Temple) by the Babylonians (that siege lasted for three years). On the 17th of Tammuz they realized that there were no more lambs left to offer for the Korban Tamid.
The loss of this constant source of atonement for the Jewish people is well understood. Perhaps we can add another dimension to it.
The Korban Tamid represented the highest level of dedication and commitment. Day in day out the Korban was brought. There was no day off. This was a constant reminder that there’s no such thing as a day off when it comes to serving Hashem. Even when we take a break from our regular routine it’s all about refreshing our ability to continue our constant endeavor to become closer and closer to the Almighty through learning Torah and performing mitzvos.
But more than just a symbol, this constant korban (sacrifice) evoked from Heaven the spiritual energy that helped the Jewish people have that constant commitment in their lives. No matter what the day brings, their dedication to Hashem wouldn’t wane. With the loss of the Korban Tamid came the tragic loss of that energy to remain steadfast in the service of Hashem.
Besides for this week’s parsha, we read this section about the Korban Tamid every Rosh Chodesh (the beginning of a new month). In the Korbanos (sacrifices) section of Shacharit (the morning service) the Korban Tamid is recited every day. These readings should inspire us to be tamid, consistent and dedicated in our service of Hashem and to do it with the same enthusiasm that the Jewish people had the very first time they brought the Korban Tamid at Sinai.
Shabbat Shalom!
Yitzchak