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Why does Shimon ben Pazi identify the daily Korban Tamid as the fundamental principle of Torah (תורה)? The shiur distinguishes between consistency and frequency: doing something constantly (tamid) reflects servitude to Hashem (ה׳), while doing it frequently but not always makes one an independent contractor. This explains why inconsistency—even skipping one day—is an act of throwing off the yoke (perikas ol) that can spiral into deeper rebellion.
The shiur opens with a Midrash discussing the fundamental principle of Torah (תורה). Rabbi Akiva suggests "V'ahavta l'rei'acha kamocha" (love your fellow as yourself), which Ben Azzai challenges because it fails when someone doesn't like himself. Shimon ben Pazi then offers a surprising answer: the Korban Tamid—"es hakeves echad ta'aseh baboker v'es hakeves hasheini ta'aseh bein ha'arbayim" (one lamb in the morning, one in the evening). How can a specific Temple offering represent Torah's ultimate principle? Rabbi Zweig explains that the Korban Tamid's unique quality is its absolute consistency (tamidus)—it is brought every single day without exception. This is not merely about frequency but about a fundamentally different relationship with mitzvos. Someone who performs a mitzvah (מצוה) most of the time but not all the time is like an independent contractor who works when he chooses. In contrast, someone who is completely consistent is a true servant (eved) who has no independent discretion—he belongs entirely to his master. The difference is not quantitative (doing something one more time) but qualitative—it reflects an entirely different metaphysical reality (metzi'us) in one's relationship with Hashem (ה׳).
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Midrash on the fundamental principle of Torah; Korban Tamid; Gemara on tadir v'she'eino tadir
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