By Rabbi Shmuel Gluck

The Parsha begins, Tzav Es Aharon V’es Bonov. Rashi explains, Ziruz Mei’yad, U’l’doros, focus on serving in the Mishkon now, and in future generations.  How does one motivate future generations to pay proper attention to the Avodah in the Mishkon and Bais Hamikdosh?

Before I discuss this I’d like to offer an analogy that describes the challenge. A pendulum that’s set in motion will swing from the center, for example, 24 inches to each side. The second time it swings, as a result of gravity, it will only extend beyond the center 23 7/8 inches. Each subsequent swing will be slightly less distanced than the previous one, until it eventually stops.

Children will act as their parents did with a slight decrease in appreciation, and fulfillment of Mitzvohs. However, a pendulum can continue to swing if there is an outside force moving it. The next generation can be as strong as the previous one, if it also has an outside force.

The same natural decrease in momentum takes place from generation to generation. Children will act as their parents did with a slight decrease in appreciation, and fulfillment of Mitzvohs. However, a pendulum can continue to swing if there is an outside force moving it. The next generation can be as strong as the previous one if it also has an outside force.

The Ziruz Miyad is the instruction to have complete focus when fulfilling Mitzvohs. Ziruz L’doros is the instruction to focus on fulfilling the Mitzvohs in a manner in which people’s children will sense that their parents, and Rabbeim, are taking Mitzvohs seriously.

Conveying the sense of importance of Mitzvohs may take different forms in different homes. Some fathers learn significant hours, but do it at work, and their children are only mildly aware of their commitment. Some mothers do Chesed outside of the home. Not only are their children unaware of what their parents are doing and, as is often the case, instead of seeing their parents’ Chesed as a Mitzvoh, they see it as neglecting their family.

The responsibility of being Mizarez L’doros requires more than just a decision of “what should I be doing right now?” It also requires people asking themselves, “How should I go about doing it?”

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