This week’s Parsha is פרשת צו, the second Parsha in ספר ויקרא, where the כהנים are commanded more about the עבודה in the מקדש. Within this פרשה, the Torah states one striking statute about the Mizbeach: “אש תמיד תוקד על־המזבח לא תכבה - A continuous fire shall burn on the altar, it shall not be extinguished.” This פסוק is perplexing and raises several questions: Firstly, what exactly is this אש תמיד, and what work is required from the כהנים regarding it? Why must the fire continue to burn even when there is no other קרבן or עבודה taking place? And why is such a fire needed when there are already other continuous lights in the מקדש? 

Recorded in Ramot