Timeless Torah

Are you a day person or a night person? "That," as Shakespeare would say, "is the question." To be more exact, "That is the question in this week's Biblical portion."

At first glance, the portion does not seem to be talking about the human race at all, much less personalities. The entire focus of this week's reading is on animals; be it bulls, sheep or goats. It is sacrifices, that the Torah is discussing, not people. However, in truth, G-d is less mindful of the animals than He is of the individuals who are bringing the creatures.

In fact, one of the major reasons for animal offerings, as expounded by the Ramban (12th century Spanish scholar), is that the person who brought the sacrifice had to realize that all of these beastly (pun intended) things being done to the poor, innocent animal should by right have been done to him. It was only because of G-d’s mercy that the creature was substituted in his place.

All of the above brings us back to our question, "Are you a day person or a night person?" Spiritually, that is. If you are interested in finding out, you should read the opening verse of Tzav and discover your spiritual identity.

"The burnt offering shall remain on the altar all night until morning." According to Rashi this teaches that, "the fat and limbs may be burned the entire night."

Although the priests were to try and complete the burning by day - this being in the eyes of Jewish law, halacha, the most appropriate time - nonetheless, it could also be done throughout the night.

Why would it take so long? Well, I was never there - at least not in this lifetime - but if the animals contained a lot of fat, it would be like calories. Burning them off is also a long, tedious process and, I might add, hot work. Does the fat of an animal sacrifice parallel the fat on a human being? Since the person himself is the one that should be on the altar, I guess the answer is, "Yes".

Fat symbolizes man’s pleasure and enjoyment. (We know it doesn't come through exercise.) And every ounce of it has to be brought to the altar and offered to G-d. When? Primarily by day or if need be, it could also be burned by night.

A day person (spiritually speaking) is one in whom the soul shines brightly. A night person lacks this illumination. A day person feels G-dliness even while engaged in mundane matters. The night person struggles not to slide into a hedonistic, self-serving, self-pleasuring existence.

The day person enthusiastically offers all of life’s pleasures to the One Above. The night person must battle his negative impulses by suppressing them in the hope he can ultimately be rid of them.

The day person is willing to make sacrifices for the Almighty. The night person will only stay if he is already there.

The day person offers the fat to G-d. The night person can at most subdue his excess reflected by the burning of what is leftover.

Now that you understand the difference between a day and night person, can all the day people please move to the right and all the night people to the left.

Let's face the facts. Some of my best friends are night people. But don't despair. As long as the fire of our G-dly soul is burning and our Yetzer Horah, the inner voice of temptation, is slowly being basted with Mitzvah Sauce and Torah Spices, you are on a spiritual diet that will leave you completely satisfied.