Rabbi Howard Morrison

In just a little over three weeks, we will sit at the Pesach Seder and recite the Haggadah. The number four pervades the Seder ceremonies: Four questions, four kinds of children, four cups of wine, and more.

Parshat Tzav contains a number four, which is barely noticed. In regard to the tradition of the Cantillation notes, known simply as Trope, the Shalshelet appears four times in the entire Torah. The Shalshelet, literally, "a chain," contains three cycles of five notes up and down. Many commentators suggest that the Shalshelet conveys a sense of hesitation or anxiety. The first three references all appear in the book of Bereishit-Genesis:

1. "Still he delayed," referring to Lot and his family delaying their leaving from the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19:16).
2. "And he said," referring to Abraham's servant  perhaps pausing or anxious in having to find a suitable mate for Isaac, at Abraham's request (Genesis 24:12).
3. "But he refused," referring to Joseph refusing the advances made by Potiphar's wife. Perhaps Joseph wavered before he ultimately refused (Genesis 39:8).

The fourth and last Shalshelet appears in this week's portion, Parshat Tzav. The cantillation note appears over the Hebrew word, "Vayishchat - he (Moses) slaughtered it (Leviticus 8:23)," referring to the ordination ram. As Aaron and his sons were being ordained as Priests to officiate the sacrificial rituals, perhaps Moses hesitated or showed anxiety in that his brother was selected to serve as Kohain Gadol and not Moses himself.

Every cantillation note has its purpose in helping us sing, understand, punctuate and interpret the Torah's texts. Given that the Shalshelet appears only four times in the entire Torah, we are encouraged to take an even closer reading of these particular sections.

The number four is here, with lots more fours coming soon at the Pesach Seder.

Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Howard Morrison