One of the beautiful Chabad Lubavitch events is the gathering we make the first time a bar mitzvah boy puts on tefillin. Our custom is that boys should start wearing tefillin two months before their bar mitzvah so they can practice before they become obligated in the mitzvah. It is a small event, without the distractions of the bar mitzvah, often just attended by close family, and is focused on the boy and the first step of their move into adulthood.

This week I was able to join my nephew Shneur in Manchester as he put on tefillin for the first time. One of his uncles, Rabbi Wolberg, well-known Rabbi who teaches at a Yeshiva in Israel, posed a question for the boys in attendance. “What is the most important verse in the Torah?” He asked.

Rabbi Wolberg was referring to a debate in the Midrash which asks the same question. The MIdrash continues, “Ben Azzai says: This is the book of the generations of Adam – on the day that G-d created man, He made him in His Image. Ben Zoma says: We have found a more encompassing verse, which is, “Shema Yisrael. Ben Nanas says: We have found a more encompassing verse, which is, “Love your fellow as yourself. Shimon ben Pazi says: We have found a more encompassing verse, which is, “The first lamb you shall sacrifice in the morning and the second lamb you shall sacrifice in the afternoon.
Ploni stood up and said: The halachah follows Ben Pazi.

In Parshas Pinchas, which we read this week, we learn about the sacrifices regularly brought in the Beit Hamikdash.

The first sacrifice mentioned is the Tamid, the Continuous Sacrifice. The Torah states, “This is the fire offering which you shall offer to the L-rd: two unblemished lambs in their first year each day as a continual burnt offering. One lamb you shall offer up in the morning, and the other lamb you shall offer up in the afternoon.” This was the verse to which Shimon ben Pazi was referring to.

In addition to being in the weekly parshah, the reference to the Korban Tomid is timely because it was one of the unfortunate events marked by the Fast of Tammuz which took place earlier this week.

At the end of Tractate Sotah, the Talmud describes a civil war involving Jerusalem about 200 years before the destruction of the Second Temple. This conflict was between two Hasmonean brothers, both vying for kingship, Hurkinus and Aristoblus. Hurkinus laid siege to Jerusalem, where Aristoblus was holed up. Hurkinus enlisted Roman soldiers to help overpower his brother and the Jewish army inside the city.

Despite the turmoil, the Kohanim continued to bring the Korban Tamid. Although lambs were scarce due to the siege, the Talmud recounts that the soldiers inside Jerusalem would lower a basket of money over the wall and bring up lambs in exchange.

One day a Jewish renegade told the Romans that if the Jews brought the Tamid every day, the city would not fall. The next day, when Jews lowered the basket with money, the Romans sent up a pig. The Korban Tomid was not offered, and it was considered such a tragedy it is one of the reasons we fasted this week.

Some sacrifices were brought only on certain holidays. Some were for atonement of specific sins. But the Korban Tamid was offered every day, regardless of the time of year: in the middle of winter, during holidays, even on Yom Kippur; in hot weather, cold weather, peacetime, and wartime. The Korban Tamid was brought tamid - constantly, consistently.

The secret of Jewish survival isn’t found in the joyous holidays or the special days, but in the daily, seemingly mundane observance of the same mitzvah day in and day out. It might not bring excitement or passion, but it provides consistency and discipline. It is this steadfastness in performing our daily mitzvot, regardless of circumstances, that the Korban Tamid represents.

Consider a family that doesn’t describe itself as “religious,” “Orthodox,” or “Chabad,” but has the custom of lighting Shabbos candles every Friday evening before dark.

Imagine they’re on vacation in Orlando at Disney World, and late Friday afternoon, they’re stuck in a long line for a popular ride. The sun is setting, and the parents know the kids won’t be thrilled about leaving the line to rush back to the hotel to light Shabbos candles. But a commitment is a commitment, so the parents drag the kids back to their hotel suite just in time to light Shabbos candles.

What just happened here? Lighting Shabbos candles is an ordinary mitzvah. It’s not the Pesach Seder or Yom Kippur. It’s an ordinary Friday. Despite the inconvenience, the parents insist, “We light Shabbos candles every Friday afternoon, and we’re not making an exception this time.”

So, they stop everything to light Shabbos candles. And that, is their Korban Tamid.

Such behaviour, the Rebbe says, brings G-d the greatest pride and joy. What a powerful message to a boy, committing to the daily mitzva of putting on tefillin.