There is something about the atmosphere in Costa Rica that makes you feel like things just happen on their own. The “Pura Vida,” the waves of Puerto Viejo, the jungle growing at its own pace – everything projects a kind of natural flow that doesn’t require too much effort. But when you read this week’s Torah portion, Parashat “Tzav,” you get a reminder of the exact opposite.

At the heart of the portion appears one of the most well-known commandments: “A perpetual fire shall be kept burning on the altar, not to go out.”

When hearing the words “perpetual fire,” it’s easy to imagine some wondrous, magical flame, one........

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