The Daily Offerings in the Mishkan

אֶת־הַכֶּ֥בֶשׂ הָֽאֶחָ֖ד תַּֽעֲשֶׂ֣ה בַבֹּ֑קֶר וְאֵת֙ הַכֶּ֣בֶשׂ הַשֵּׁנִ֔י תַּֽעֲשֶׂ֖ה בֵּ֥ין הָֽעַרְבָּֽיִם:

The one lamb you shall offer up in the morning and the other lamb you shall offer up in the afternoon.

In Parshat Tetzaveh, we learn about the daily offerings (korbanot) that were brought in the Mishkan that Bnei Yisrael built in the desert. These offerings were brought every morning and afternoon and were an essential part of the daily service in the Mishkan, and later in the Beit HaMikdash.

Both the morning and afternoon offerings consisted of a lamb that was slaughtered, its blood sprinkled on the altar, and its body burned on the fire. They were accompanied by a meal (grain) offering and a libation of wine.

These daily offerings had a communal aspect. They were brought on behalf of the entire community of Israel, and fostered a sense of unity and common purpose among the people. The offerings symbolized the idea that each individual was part of a greater whole, and that their actions impacted themselves and the entire community.

The daily offerings in the Mishkan and Beit HaMikdash served as a model for our daily prayers today. Just as the Israelites brought offerings every morning and afternoon to connect with God, express gratitude, and reaffirm their commitment, we do the same with our daily prayers. The morning offering corresponds to Tefilat Shacharit, and the afternoon offering corresponds to Tefilat Mincha.

The offerings are described in the text as רֵ֣יחַ נִיחֹ֔חַ אִשֶּׁ֖ה לַֽיהֹוָֽה a spirit of satisfaction, a fire offering to the Lord. Thus the intention of these offerings, like the intentions of our prayers today, must be towards God and only God, to satisfy him, not ourselves.

May we be inspired by the daily offerings in the Mishkan and Beit HaMikdash, and may we find ways to bring their lessons into our own lives, as we strive to serve God with consistency, dedication, and unity.

שבת שלום!