Torah Portion: Tzav
“לא יניח ממנו עד בקר” (ויקרא ז טו)
He shall not leave any of it until morning (Vayikra 7:15)
It is a negative commandment to not leave over anything of the Thanksgiving offering until morning, that is, until the morning after it was slaughtered, as it is written, he shall not leave any of it until morning (Vayikra 7:15). From this we learn the same with regard to all other consecrated offerings, that whatever is left over of them after their allotted time to be eaten, is called Nosar, “leftover,” and must be burned, as will be discussed in the next mitzvah.
“והנותר מבשר הזבח ביום השלישי באש ישרף“
What is left over from the flesh of the feast-offering shall be burned in the fire on the third day (Vayikra 7:17)
It is a positive commandment burn the nosar, which is consecrated meat that remained after the time allotted for them to have been eaten, as it is written, What is left over from the flesh of the feast-offering shall be burned in the fire on the third day (Vayikra 7:17). This act of burning the leftovers is a positive commandment. There is likewise a positive commandment to burn the meat of piggul [which is the “rejected” meat of an offering that was brought with a disqualifying intent].
Among the roots of the mitzvah is the idea that since it is the nature of all meat to become spoiled and unusable when it sits out, therefore, in order raise our esteem for offerings, we were commanded to burn it immediately from the world, so that no person would be repulsed by it or its odor. Now, [this method is used because] the ultimate form of destruction is burning by fire, which is more effective than pulverizing, casting into the wind, or any other method.
In addition, this mitzvah teaches a lesson about having trust in Hashem, may He be blessed. When one sees that God commanded to destroy consecrated meat once its time expires, and He did not want any creature — human or animal — to partake of it, he learns that he should not refrain from eating what he needs to eat only because he wishes to leave some of his food for the next day.
This mitzvah applies when the Holy Temple stands, to kohanim.
