Questions on Parshas Tzav to think about and discuss:

1. What is the difference between the sacrifices mentioned in Parshas Vayikra and those mentioned in Parshas Tzav?
2. What was (one of) the hardest avoda done by the kohanim?
3. What is an easy way of remembering how many pesukim in Parshas Tzav?
4. How were the kohanim selected for the avoda of the terumas hadeshen?
5. The earthen vessels used in the Beis Hamikdosh were smashed and placed on the floor of the Azara. What happened to them when they amassed? Did they not pose a danger to the barefoot kohanim?
6. The Kohen Godol brought the Minchas Chavitin sacrifice every day – half in the morning and half in the evening. What lies behind this?
7. How many different fires were there on top of the mizbayach?
8. What is the extra small letter in Parshas Tzav and why is it there?
9. How often was the taking out of the ashes, Hoitzoas Hadeshen, done?
10. There is a segula for someone who has a problem with bad thoughts from Parshas Tzav. What is it?
11. Four people who are saved from dangerous situations must bring a korban toda. Who are these and what is an easy way of remembering them? How is this reflected nowadays?
12. Does the korban shelomim come together with challos?
13. The blood of which animals can be eaten?
14. What is unusual about the minimum amount of blood that is forbidden?
15. What is something special only done to the shelomim?

Ideas for answers on the general parsha:

1. The sacrifices of Parshas Vayikra deal with the animals brought for all the Jews while the sacrifices of Parshas Tzav deal with the sacrifices for the kohanim.
2. The “kemitza” fistful of flour taken from the mincha offering.
3. The siman brought at the end of Parshas Tzav brings that there are 96 pesukim that have the numerical value of the word “Tzav”. However, it has been pointed out that in reality it has 97 pesukim…
4. Originally it was done by a race, given to the fastest kohen who reached the top of the ramp of the mizbayach. However, when this resulted in accidents, it was changed to selection by the peyos – the count of a thought of number more than the number of kohanim present.
5. The Gemora (Yuma 21a) brings that a miracle happened that the broken earthenware shards were swallowed up by the ground.
6. The Chinuch (136) brings that like the tzibur brings the korban tomid morning and evening, so too does the Kohen Godol in the form of this Minchas Chavitin – half in the morning and half in the evening. The idea is to keep him focused on the idea behind sacrifices – coming close to Hashem.
7. The Gemora (Yuma 43b) brings several different opinions. Everyone agrees that there were two separate fires every day – the fire to burn the sacrificed parts and a smaller fire from which was taken to burn the ketores.
8. It is the letter Mem in the word  “Moikda” (6:2)…
9. (6:4) Rashi learns that it was done only once the ashes became too much. However, the Rambam learns that it took place every day.
10. The Yad HaShelah brings from the Ramak to say the possuk (6:6) many times. What is the significance of this possuk? Perhaps because it discusses the fire on the altar…
11. These are seen in the letters of the word “Chayim” – וכל החיי”ם יודוך סלה – חיי”ם ר”ת חולה-ים-יסורין-מדבר…This is reflected nowadays in people bentching gomel when travelling overseas.
12. Usually not but there are two exceptions. The korban shamei toda that comes with forty challos and the ayil nozir that comes with twenty challos.
13. The Torah (Tzav, 7:26) only prohibits blood of animals and birds. However, the blood of fish and grasshoppers are permitted. However, because of maris ayin, looking that the blood might come from forbidden animals, their blood is rabbinically forbidden unless there are clear signs where they come from. (Y.D. 66:9).
14. Usually for liquids it is a reviyis. However, for the liquid blood the minimum amount is a kezayis.
15. It is the tenufa, waving, of the innards, chest, and thigh.