Tzav

The Parsha opens with the laws of the קרבן עלה, the elevation offering that's offered completely to Hashem. Rashi explains that the Torah uses the term זו because it denotes alacrity to which Reb Shimon comments that the Torah has to urge where there is חסרון כיס , a loss of money. The Chidushei HaRim has a novel way of interpreting those words; he says that word כיס could also be translated as a cover so  חסרון כיס means lacking a cover.

A person’s body has various covers to prevent sin: the eyes have lids that one could close to avoid seeing what shouldn't be seen; the ears have lobes that one could use to shut them; the mouth has lips that can keep it from speaking the forbidden. Only the brain has no cover to filter out the bad thoughts. Therefore the brain needs extra diligence in protecting it from sin. Since the  קרבן עולה is brought because of sinful thoughts, the Torah uses a zealous term to remind us to be extra diligent with our minds.

We see a similar theme in this week’s maftir, the reading of פרשת זכור, where we are commanded to wipe out any vestige of עמלק, including its animals because the people of עמלק were sorcerers who could turn themselves into animals. This was how עמלק was reborn after שאול killed them out. He said to himself, “what did the animals do wrong that I should kill them out too?” Because he let them live, one of the "animals" which was really a woman was with the king whom שאול also let live overnight and had a child; from there the עמלק lineage lived on & Haman was born.

The Otzros HaTorah says that we learn a powerful lesson from here. Shaul had pity on the animals & let them live. However, Hashem said to him אל תהי צדיק הרבה ואל תתחכם יותר , don't be too righteous & don't be overwise. If Hashem commands one to do something, he should do it without analyzing even if it doesn't make sense, for man cannot know the intentions of Hashem.

This point is exemplified by the following story. רב יצחק אברבנאל was very close with the king of Spain & was, of course, hated by the other advisers who, in an attempt to undermine him, told the king to test him to see if he's really honest & trustworthy. The king agreed so they told the rabbi to write down all his personal wealth & they would see if he tries to hide anything. After three days, the rabbi came back to the king with a parchment upon which was written that his whole fortune was seven hundred thousand shekel. When the advisers saw that, they laughed & said his home alone is worth twice that. As well, he has fields & vineyards.

The king was furious & wanted to have the rabbi killed but didn't want a public outcry so he was going to do it quietly. On the outskirts of town was a brick refinery that had a constant fire burning. The king wrote a letter to the one who maintained that fire with the instruction that whoever hands him this paper should be thrown in the fire. He sent for the rabbi & gave him the sealed envelope & told him to deliver it to the brick refinery immediately. The rabbi went with his servant to do the king’s bidding. As they were leaving the city, someone was flagging them down at the crossroads. He pleaded with the rabbi to come with him for his wife gave birth eight days ago but the moel got sick & couldn't do the bris. Could the rabbi come & do it?

The rabbi was in a quandary. He was on a mission from the king which he had to complete. Yet the mitzva of bris mila had to be done; how could he pass up a mitzva that Hashem gave for the commandment of a mortal king. He gave the letter to his servant & told him to deliver it while he went to do the bris.

After the bris, he went to meet up with his servant. When he got there, the head of the refinery told him that the letter that his servant gave him was a death sentence from the king. Not only that, but before his death he admitted that he had been stealing from the rabbi all these years. When the rabbi realized what had happened, he said about himself שומר מצוה לא ידע דבר רע one who watches the mitzvos won't know of any bad.

The next day, he went to the king. When the king saw him, he was shocked & asked him if he had fulfilled his command. When the rabbi told the king what had happened, the king said, “now I see that you are truly righteous but tell me what was the number you wrote?” The rabbi told him, “yes I have many more possessions but those can be taken from me at any time. The number I wrote was the money I gave to charity which can't be taken from me

This teaches us that while we don't understand Hashem’s ways, we must never stray or try to make up excuses or even frum cheshbonos. We must do what we’re supposed to & know that שומר מצוה לא ידע דבר רע one who watches the mitzvos won't know of any bad!