“The Korban Tamid–a Lesson in Consistency”
(updated and revised from Tetzaveh 5762-2002)

by, Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald

In this week’s parasha, parashat Tetzaveh, after a lengthy discussion regarding the priestly vestments and a detailed description of the inauguration ceremony of Aaron and his sons into the priesthood, the Torah, in Exodus 29:38-46, describes the details of the קָרְבַּן תָּמִיד —the Tamid offering.

The Tamid, the perpetual offering, was brought every morning and afternoon of every day of the year. Offered by the priest, on the altar of the Tabernacle, the Tamid consisted of a single unblemished sheep, together with a Mincha offering of 1/10 of an ephah of pure wheat, mixed with a quarter of a hin of pure oil and wine.

In Exodus 29:43 the Torah states, וְנֹעַדְתִּי שָׁמָּה לִבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְנִקְדַּשׁ בִּכְבֹדִי. As a consequence of the Tamid offering, G-d says: “I shall set My meeting there [in the Tabernacle] with the children of Israel, and it shall be sanctified with My glory.” G-d will sanctify the Tabernacle, the altar, and the sons of Aaron, and G-d will dwell among the Jewish people, and He will be their G-d.

There’s something special about the word Tamid. Tamid itself means always or regular or perpetual. It is a positive word that the Al-mighty obviously favors. It is an important word in our social and psychological dictionary. It means to be reliable, to always be there–for our mates, for our friends, for humanity. Who can complain about someone or something that is reliable? Look how exceedingly admiring we are of the seemingly simple stream of boiling hot water that shoots out of the earth on a regular schedule in Wyoming. In fact, we call that geyser “Ol’ faithful,” implying that it is like an old friend who never disappoints and who never lets us down.

As much as we complain, G-d is always there for us. The concept of fixed prayer–morning, afternoon and evening, underscores that G-d is always there for us, as we should always be there for G-d. In 1992, after my mother, of blessed memory, passed away, I tried to express this notion in writing. The essay was entitled “Saying Thank You for the Good,” and I’d like to share a part of it with you.

More than a year has passed since my mother, of blessed memory, passed away. Of course, it was not an easy year, but it flew by rapidly.

Many of the laws and customs of aveylut (mourning) had a deep impact on me. But, the requirement to say Kaddish with a minyan every morning and evening had a particularly profound impact, throwing my already tumultuous life into even greater turmoil. There were times when I was delayed on trains and planes, and I was certain that I would miss Kaddish. But, somehow, I never missed reciting the Kaddish, not even once during the entire year–which is quite a tribute–particularly to the New York subway system! Often it required something a little short of a miracle, but I made it. And, now, I can finally take a deep breath, and plod on.

I must admit that saying Kaddish, for me, was not a terrible inconvenience, since, even before I became a mourner, I regularly attended Shacharit and Mincha services daily, and tried as often as I could to attend Maariv services. I can’t fathom how difficult this new routine must be for those who do not attend minyan regularly. The tensions I experienced, as someone who was used to going to services, were enormous. How overwhelming it must be for someone who is suddenly thrust into this awesome regimen.

What really amazed me was how casual my attitude toward synagogue attendance became immediately after the first Yahrtzeit. It took less than three weeks for me to miss my first minyan, and while I am sincerely trying not to miss too often, it is very likely that I am going to miss at times, even though I did not miss during my entire year of mourning. 

Yes, I recognize the irony. Now, thank G-d, that everyone is OK, my 88 year-old father is doing well [my father passed away a few months after this article was written], my wife and children are healthy, my work is fulfilling — now that everything is hunky-dory–I somehow can’t manage to get to synagogue as regularly as I did during my mourning. When mother was ill, and after she passed away, I never missed. And, now, when I have so much for which to be grateful, I am back to being casual about it! And, then when, G-d forbid, tragedy strikes, as it will inevitably, we call out, “O G-d, O G-d, why have you forsaken me!”

“Where were you, Buchwald, when everything was OK?”, He may justifiably ask. “You couldn’t find the time to say ‘Thank you’?”

Now that the ancient Temple in Jerusalem is no longer, we do not have a קָרְבַּן תָּמִיד —Korban Tamid, a perpetual offering. All we have is prayer. As the prophet, Hoshea says (14:3): וּנְשַׁלְּמָה פָרִים, שְׂפָתֵינוּ , Let us render our sacrifices, (which we can no longer bring), with our lips.

If we only show consistency and faithfulness to G-d, G-d will surely show His consistency and faithfulness to us. What could be better for G-d, than to have a people upon whom He can always rely? And, what could be better for the Jewish people, than to have a G-d who we really know is “Ol’ Faithful”?

May you be blessed.

Please note: The Fast of Esther is observed this year on Thursday, February 25, 2021, from dawn to nightfall. Purim is observed this year on Thursday night, and Friday, February 25-26, 2021.

The festival of Purim  marks the celebration of the great salvation of the Jews of the Persian Empire from the hands of the evil Haman in the year 520-519 BCE. For more information about Purim and its special observances, click here.