Tzav: Finding Miracles in the Routine: A Lesson from the Eternal Flame

By Seth Jacobs

In Parashat Tzav, we are commanded concerning the אֵ֗שׁ תָּמִ֛יד upon the מִּזְבֵּ֤חַ:

והָאֵ֨שׁ עַל־הַמִּזְבֵּ֤חַ תּֽוּקַד־בּוֹ֙ לֹ֣א תִכְבֶּ֔ה וּבִעֵ֨ר עָלֶ֧יהָ הַכֹּהֵ֛ן עֵצִ֖ים בַּבֹּ֣קֶר בַּבֹּ֑קֶר וְעָרַ֤ךְ עָלֶ֙יהָ֙ הָֽעֹלָ֔ה וְהִקְטִ֥יר עָלֶ֖יהָ חֶלְבֵ֥י הַשְּׁלָמִֽים׃ אֵ֗שׁ תָּמִ֛יד תּוּקַ֥ד עַל־הַמִּזְבֵּ֖חַ לֹ֥א תִכְבֶּֽה

The fire on the altar shall be kept burning, not to go out: every morning the priest shall feed wood to it" (Leviticus 6:5).

This seemingly simple directive holds profound insights into the nature of miracles and our perception of them.

The Gemara in Yoma 21a elucidates this commandment by explaining that despite the fire originating from שמים, the Kohen was instructed to tend to it daily. This seemingly redundant act of kindling the flame daily teaches us a crucial lesson about the nature of miracles. While they may start in heaven, we must ensure their continuance and relevance.

The Sefer Hachinuch further expounds on this commandment, highlighting the concealed manner in which great miracles are gifted by God. When miracles are done, Hashem does them in a way that they can still appear natural. Even the momentous splitting of the sea was accomplished through natural means—wind.

וַיֹּ֣ולֶךְ יְהוָ֣ה ׀ אֶת־הַ֠יָּם בְּר֨וּחַ קָדִ֤ים עַזָּה֙ כׇּל־הַלַּ֔יְלָה וַיָּ֥שֶׂם אֶת־הַיָּ֖ם לֶחָרָבָ֑ה וַיִּבָּקְע֖וּ הַמָּֽיִם׃

Rav Chaim Shmulevitz quotes the Sefer Hachinuch when reflecting on the miraculous preservation of the Mir Yeshiva in Shanghai during World War II, further reinforcing this notion. Despite being a miracle, it unfolded through ostensibly natural means.

Although this may seem counterintuitive to the point of miracles, Rav Chatzkel Levenstein explains that the concealment of miracles serves to preserve human free will. Individuals are presented with the choice to acknowledge the miraculous or to remain in disbelief. This sentiment echoes the words of הושע:

וְצַדִּקִים֙ יֵ֣לְכוּ בָ֔ם וּפֹשְׁעִ֖ים יִכָּ֥שְׁלוּ בָֽם

"The righteous walk in them, but sinners stumble over them" (Hosea 14:10). The discernment of miracles is not imposed on us, but is left to individual interpretation. As Albert Einstein said “There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.” The talmidim of Rav Chaim Shmulevitz lived this latter lifestyle.

All of this goes back to perhaps the most famous Ramban Al HaTorah

The Ramban at the end of Parshat בא states

 אין לאדם חלק בתורת משה עד שנאמין שכל מקרינו נסים

The Ramban's assertion that one cannot truly grasp the Torah until they recognize that every moment is imbued with miracles reminds us of the significance of acknowledging the miraculous within the mundane.

Rashi in the beginning of the Parsha asks why the pasuk says צו את אהרון and not just speak to him. One of the answers he gives is that the term command is used when extra encouragement is needed. Why was extra encouragement needed by this specific command? Why does the אש תמיד need reinforcement? Rav Shlomo Zevin answers this question with our yesod. While we may be inclined to marvel at extraordinary, sporadic occurrences, the routine and predictable aspects of existence are, in truth, equally miraculous if not more so, and they demand the same level of encouragement. Hence something seemingly as mundane as preserving a fire, requires the same excitement as any other mitzvah.

In essence, the commandment regarding the אֵ֗שׁ תָּמִ֛יד serves as a reminder that miracles are not limited to grandiose displays of divine power, but are woven into the fabric of everyday life. It beckons us to perceive the extraordinary within the ordinary, to recognize the hand of the Divine in the rhythms of existence, and to cultivate a sense of awe and gratitude for the miracles that surround us on a daily basis.

This, says the Rambam, is the key to cultivating a love for Hashem

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וְהֵיאַךְ הִיא הַדֶּרֶךְ לְאַהֲבָתוֹ וְיִרְאָתוֹ. בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁיִּתְבּוֹנֵן הָאָדָם בְּמַעֲשָׂיו וּבְרוּאָיו הַנִּפְלָאִים הַגְּדוֹלִים וְיִרְאֶה מֵהֶן חָכְמָתוֹ שֶׁאֵין לָהּ עֵרֶךְ וְלֹא קֵץ מִיָּד הוּא אוֹהֵב וּמְשַׁבֵּחַ וּמְפָאֵר וּמִתְאַוֶּה תַּאֲוָה גְּדוֹלָה לֵידַע הַשֵּׁם הַגָּדוֹל

Look at the world around you, reflect on how truly amazing it is, and instantly you will start feeling that love for הקדוש ברוך הוא. The path to loving God lies not in the miraculous, but in the ordinary.

Just as the Kohen tended to the אֵ֗שׁ תָּמִ֛יד daily, let us nurture our awareness of the miracles that abound in our lives, and in doing so, may we draw ever closer to ה׳ and deepen our appreciation for the wonders of our world.