Tzav: The Unique Nature of the Korban Todah

By Aryeh Bienstock

The Shulchan Aruch (OC 428:4) describes four rules that serve as the basis for deciding whether to read a double parsha on a particular Shabbos. One rule is that in every non-leap year, we read Parshat Tzav on the Shabbos before Pesach. Why is this the case? Why does Parshat Tzav need to be read on the Shabbos before Pesach?

To answer this question, I believe we need to analyze the contents of Parshat Tzav, specifically the Korban Todah. In the seventh perek of Parshat Tzav, we are introduced to the Korban Todah. There, Rashi (7:12) explains that this Korban is brought to express appreciation to Hashem for a personal salvation such as surviving a desert journey, crossing a sea, recovering from an illness, or being freed from prison. It is meant as a thank you to Hashem for saving an individual from these extremely dangerous and difficult situations. However, upon a deeper examination of the Korban, we notice a few unique aspects.

One unique feature of the Korban Todah is that it is brought with thirty loaves of matzah and ten loaves of chametz, notably more than other Korbanot. Another unique element is the time in which the korban must be eaten. This korban must be eaten in within one day and one night, which is the shortest time for any korban except the Korban Pesach. These distinct aspects highlight something significant about the nature of the Korban Todah.

Rabbi Rosner, quoting the Netziv, explains that these unique features of the Korban Todah are a way of publicizing the miracle — Pursumei Nisa. The reason one must eat all the food in such a brief period is to encourage the person to invite others to the seudah to publicize the miracle.

The Sefat Emet (5650), quoted by Rabbi Jonah Steimetz in his sefer “A World Within”, takes this idea a step further. He explains that when one experiences a miracle that Hashem has performed for him, he begins to see more clearly that Hashem is running the world. When he brings the Korban, he expresses his gratitude while also recognizing that Hashem is running the world. Therefore, when he invites others to partake in his seudah and tells over the story, he is publicizing this fact that Hashem runs the world. He is helping others see the Yad Hashem in his life and by extension in their own daily lives.

The Sefat Emet then takes this idea even further by saying that the Korban Pesach is the ultimate Korban Todah. He explains that when the Jewish people left Egypt, they experienced miracles in each of the 4 settings which, as noted above, would obligate one to bring a Korban Todah: they were redeemed from slavery, crossed the Yam Suf, traveled through the desert, and were healed from disease. They were required to bring this korban for what had physically occurred to them; however, they were also obligated to bring a Korban Todah for another reason. While in Egypt, Bnei Yisroel could not perceive Hashem’s presence in their lives. They were slaves, beaten, and worked extremely hard. Then, when Hashem performed numerous miracles for them, which led to their freedom, they saw the hand of Hashem clearly and His direct involvement in their lives. They were able to see that Hashem was protecting them and orchestrating all the events that occurred. Therefore, they brought a Korban Pesach, the ultimate Korban Todah, to show themselves and others that Hashem is running the world.

This connection between the Korban Todah and the Korban Pesach helps explain why we read Parshat Tzav immediately before Pesach. It is because both the Korban Pesach and Todah are about Pursumei Nisa, publicizing Hashem’s miracles, and showing that even when we cannot see Hashem, He is still present and running the world.

I think we can take this idea one step further and use it to explain why, at the beginning of the Seder, we invite all those who are hungry to join us. When we invite others to join, we are not only offering them a meal, but we are inviting them to come and experience Yetziat Mitzrayim with us. They are experiencing the slavery of Mitzrayim and the freedom with us. We are publicizing, just like the Korban Todah and Korban Pesach, that Hashem is guiding everything now just like He did during Yetziat Mitzrayim.