The first Rashi in this week’s Parshah explains that when the word Tzav is used it requires an instant action but not just for the moment, also for generations. This command is a requirement for all times that it comes into effect. The concept of procrastination comes to mind, and there is a lot to uncover beneath this long word, because the longer this problem festers the bigger the consequences are.

Let’s preface this conversation with the simple concepts of energy. You may have heard people say, “The energy of that person, or the energy from this room…” Such sentences sound like a new age word, but what we will come to learn is simple facts which you already know to be true. If you have realized it or not, you have been living in an energy dominated world, and even the way your typical Monday goes depends on it.

We’ve all woken up to days where we’ve found ourselves gloomy and uninterested in the next few hours. All we wish to do is turn over to the other side of the bed and take in another few hours in the blissful dream world. Some may say that the rain outside is the cause for gloom and the reason to remain in bed, while some may say the opposite, that the rain is the source of growth and we know that our calmness extends when the world sleeps. And based on the second view, getting work done on rainy days would actually be much greater and even more relaxed.

There definitely is something about the quiet that gives the mind an opening to expand beyond its daily limits, and how we look forward to times of happiness to give ourselves this deeply needed expanse. Days like Shabbat, Chagim, Weddings, Family time, those are all wonderful to take stock of our mental inventory and to recognize our responsibilities and reaffirm our commitment to ourselves and to those dependent on our resolve.

Throughout the weekdays and the days of rush, we barely have time to quiet ourselves down and process properly. It is a unique feat for one to have the capacity to pull themselves out of their situation and assess their life as if whatever is going on is separated from themselves. It is like they put themselves on pause and observe the world around them. This comes after a person can set a certain state of emotional being and shift to it at a moment’s notice.

This state of being can be envisioned as a line. When we experience happiness we are high above the line, and when we experience the contrary we are below it. Imagining the state of your emotions according to this requires first that we determine what it feels like when we are stable on the line. How does the heartbeat feel, what kind of thoughts are being entertained, and how does the body feel at that period. We all have this information stored within us, but it is essential that we articulate it so that we have a map of ourselves.

These three things are the test we should put ourselves through as we pause life and assess our situation. How quick is my heartrate? What thoughts have I been entertaining? How do I feel? Take this as an example; The love between a brother and sister is pretty strong, and although they live two completely separate lives, they are connected and feel for each other’s peace and pain. The relationship isn’t surveyed on a constant basis, and many times it can be years since they’ve really spent time with each other, but when the brother hears of the sisters challenges through childbirth, the sadness in his heart will be awakened by the care for her. This is due to the emotional state of this relationship dipping below the determined line. And vice versa when the emotion level rises above for good reason, the excitement and happiness is true and meaningful.

And as everything in life is a relationship, we have many such lines within us in regard to many subjects. Our faith, family, finances, etc. In the case of finances we can easily pause the situation and ask ourselves those three questions, so that with the answers we’ll be able to properly choose our next steps from a logical and calm place. Whereas when we don’t emotionally detach from the situation we will react erratically based on our primal programming or youthful learnt behavior.

We are trying to reeducate ourselves to learning new behavioral patterns so that we can react emotionally to life and be certain that our reaction will be virtuous and peaceful. And this is upon each individual to learn as soon as they wake up, since their children and the fruits of their labor will grow by the roots they were planted. It is Hashem’s wish that we teach our young so that their youthful learnt behavior is one that reflects true faith in Him and not (Deut. 8:17) “My power and strength of my hand have given me this fortune.”

The baseline of our emotional wellbeing is set by the things we are exposed to. For instance, if we expose ourselves to negative talk about our sister we will start thinking negatively about them, and when they go through hardship, the brother won’t even feel bad or sad for her since they already feel so lowly about them. The same is with every relationship, if we expose ourselves to thoughts of victory and winning, the way we see this endeavor will be through a lens of possibility and motivation. Whereas if the view is from the other angle it will affect us tremendously. It really depends on what we allow ourselves to be exposed to.

Some would argue that they don’t allow themselves to be exposed to negativity, and they’ll say, “It seems to find me!” That may be true to some extent but the choice to remove yourself from it never went away. We may have a toxic work environment and removing myself of it would mean that I will be financially unstable or destroy the many years of climbing the ladder, but we don’t have to act through extremes. We can remove ourselves from negative situations as easily as it is to change a track on the music player. Just shift your heartbeat, the thoughts rushing through your mind, and it will change the way your body feels.

So back to energy. Think of a singer who is low in the slums of humanity. Their words are despicable and dirty, their intentions are vile and disgusting, and their goals in life are inspired by the Devil. They pour their heart into their song as if placing their words in an eternal spigot. Now, whoever exposes themselves to it and drinks from their words will be filled with the energy placed within it. Think of gossip the same way. The words and even hints coming from the gossiper is derived from a low and hateful place in their hearts, and when entertained will affect the listeners heart.

This is basic energy that encircles every facet in our world, and we have receptors that have to be trained to be open only to the ones that will keep us at, the line we set for ourselves in our life, or above it. We aim to lift our line higher so that even things we used to enjoy as children become obsolete with our growth.

There is another step to energy we should discuss. Let’s take a person who wishes to open a business. Besides the idea and having the roots of knowledge and the short and long term goals to accomplish, they would have to acquire customers. Marketing. This is where they would send out the message to the world so that people can take their time to consider the value they would receive from this product or service. And as we said, everything is a relationship, and a relationship is rooted in time. Just like a driver who passes by hundreds of cars a day but has no relationship with any of them until they get into an accident. This collision forces these two to spend time together, albeit under weird circumstances, but still, this episode creates a connection, like it or not.

We need people to think of us in order to be able to be successful. When people consider their lives with us or our product among the mix and uplift their emotional state because of it we have accomplished our acquisition. Those good thoughts others have in regard to our product will inevitably become part of their discussions and will ultimately drive more traffic in your businesses direction. And the same with ourselves as well. We don’t want people thinking negative thoughts about us since the energy that they put into the world will have a clear effect on our lives. We want only good to emanate from us so that if we are to be in someone’s thoughts that should be sending only positive energy in our direction.

It is as though we are connected though pipes carrying light, and we are exposed to receiving what we allow others to think about us. If we go into the world and tell stories that reflect a bad image of ourselves we become subject to the energies derived by the thoughts of others in regard to this story. Since we opened that door and allowed others in, they have an open link to move their light back into us. Tzaddikim and pious people would take this opportunity to think good and pray for the person so that their connection can be for the person’s good and not to their detriment.

This goes on the good as well. People can become jealous and return bitterness as they hear of one’s successes. And this is why it is correct to say that negativity can at times find us even as we do what we can to be removed of it. So we have to find ways to protect ourselves from the outside and not be influenced by the thoughts and words of others. These thoughts and words are very similar to a competitor who tries to take away our business, and if we aren’t protected we may end up losing it all to them. We need Mikvah to create a forcefield around us, we need Torah for another thick layer, and of course, we need to remove all doubt from our heart.

If we allow doubt to fester in our hearts, what good will the forcefields around us help if the monster is living inside. It becomes even more dangerous now that it is surrounded with impenetrable barriers. To do that we come to a place called Metikah and Merikah. This work is when we are able to go to our past sins and turn them to good by learning the lessons of what we shouldn’t do and what we should be doing differently now and in the future. This also pertains to negative thoughts we have towards others, which have to be sweetened and erased so that only positivity can be thought of when the thought of them comes up. And of course this pertains to our doubts as well, when we face them head on and shift our beliefs to winning and victory.

This is simply setting our baseline and heartbeat, and as large as a job it sounds, it is the basic function we humans contend with every single day of our lives. We just have to make it our business to care about this relationship.

So now, back to procrastination. Once we understand how important the energy in the world is and how everything, from the way we feel on a regular Monday to the way we feel when listening to song, is ruled by it, we see how important it is to administer the antidote to anything that tries to disrupt the natural upward flow.

When there are pipes bursting in your home you won’t think for a second that it can wait for tomorrow, for tomorrow may come and there won’t be a house to fix. When there is a mole in the business and the family secrets are being shared, urgency is demanded! We must, must, see our lives through this lens for it is no less than those examples. Life is precious beyond the temporary problems, for they all are simple analogies to our eternal lives that lives on for generations. Even the greatest building ever built has yet to last beyond the limits of time, but the house of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, is destined outlive time itself. And this is what we look forward to as we will have our new home, the Beit Hamikdash Hashlishi that will never be destroyed!

Tzav! This beginning section teaches of the removal of the ashes from the Altar. This command is not one for a single day, it is one that spans generations and for this reason it is incumbent upon the Kohanim and the people of service to their Creator to cleanse their Altars from all ashes and doubt. This work cannot wait or be pushed off, this is our daily service to be done on the double without delay.

The Altar is the source of our energy. This is where we send up our words to Hashem. Our confessions, admissions of guilt, repentance, and thankfulness, all rise through the flames of light that come down directly from Hashem. (Lev. 6:6) The fire should never be extinguished; for it is the main pipeline that carries the light from us to Him and from Him to us.

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