parsha bit: Tzav

[cellio]

This week's parsha describes four types of korbanot (sacrifices) to be brought to the temple. One, the olah, is the burnt offering. Rabbi Levi taught that the word "olah" can also be read "alah", one who behaves boastfully. Therefore, he taught, the torah passage "this is the law of the olah: it shall go up on its burning place on the altar" can be understood to mean "this is the law of the alah, the boastful person: he shall be destroyed by fire". (Leviticus Rabbah 7:6)