What’s the difference between a moment that changes you and one that just passes by?

In Parshat Tzav, the Torah goes into detail about korbanot, the sacrifices. But Rabbi Sacks points out something deeper: a sacrifice was not just an action - it was an experience. It forced a person to stop, to be present, to think. Nothing was rushed. Every step had meaning. In a world where life was busy and people could easily act without thinking, the korban created a pause, a space to step back and absorb actions.

The lesson of the korbanot is relevant because today, we are constantly moving. Moments come and go, but they don’t always change us. We experience things, but we don’t always take the time to internalize them. And that’s where Pesach comes in. Pesach is built entirely around reliving an experience. We don’t just remember leaving Egypt; we sit at the Seder, we tell the story, we ask questions, we taste the matzah and maror. It slows us down and asks us to engage, to make the experience meaningful.

Rabbi Sacks adds another perspective to korbanot. Korbanot were also a way of guiding what we feel inside by taking powerful emotions and directing them in a constructive way, instead of letting them turn into something negative. They helped a person turn inner feelings into growth. This is the connection between Tzav and Pesach. Tzav teaches us to take our experiences seriously and give them direction. Pesach teaches us to live those experiences in a way that shapes who we are.

Even today, when we  no longer bring sacrifices, no we still have opportunities to “give” in other ways by giving our time, helping others, and working on ourselves. Small acts of kindness, improving our choices, and strengthening our relationships are all ways we bring meaning into our lives.

A meaningful life is not built on how much we experience, but on how much we take from those experiences.

Shabbat Shalom and Chag Sameach

Written by Hillel, Grade 11