[Avodah] From RSRH's Commentary on Parshas Tzav

[Yitzchok Levine]

The following is from RSRH's commentary on this week's Parsha.

6: 2 Command Aharon and his sons as follows: This 
is the teaching with regard to the ascent 
offering: It is an ascent offering upon the place
where the offerings are burned upon the altar 
throughout the night until the morning, when the 
altar fire shall be rekindled upon it.

The Jewish perception is the antithesis of the heathen perception.
Not in the resignation of night does the Jew sense God’s power. Rather,
in clarity of thought, in creative action that conquers worlds, in the
upright posture of daytime endeavor — precisely in these does he attain
closeness to God. The light of his clear intellect, the force of his free
will, the creativity of his endeavors — indeed, the whole of his free
personality standing tall throughout the day — all these were given to
him by the grace of the Creator. For the one God has granted man a
share of the infinite outpouring of His Intellect, a share of His holy free
Will, a share of His creative Power which dominates the world. Thus
God has raised man beyond the bonds of the physical world, set him
upright, and made him master of the world — in order that he serve
God in it. In the very carrying out of a day’s work, a man fulfills the
Will of God.

In the heathen perception, the day is a struggle of mortals against the
power of the gods. To the Jew, day means serving God, and through his
work he brings God satisfaction.

6: 4 He shall then take off his garments and 
clothe himself in other garments and take the 
ashes out of the camp to a pure place.

Trumas Hadeshen  begins the avodah of the new day by recalling the avodah
of the previous day. Hotzaas Hadeshen, on the 
other hand, signifies that, at the
same time, the Jewish nation must begin its task anew each day. The
start of every new day summons us to set out upon our task with full
and fresh devotion as though we had never accomplished anything before.
The memory of yesterday’s accomplishments must not inhibit today’s
performance. Thoughts of what has already been accomplished
are likely to choke off all initiative for new accomplishments. Woe to
him who is smug with satisfaction over his past achievements, who does
not begin the work of each new day as though it were the very first
day of his life’s work!

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