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Updates  Tzav(Leviticus 6-8)  Ashes to Ashes; Dust to Dust  This
week's Torah portion begins by presenting us with two rather
peculiar commandments.  The first commandment instructs the
Kohanim to clear the ashes that are the residue of the burnt
offerings from the altar, to place part of these ashes next to
the altar and transport the remainder to a designated place
outside the camp; they must do this in their priestly vestments,
although they are allowed to wear vestments that have seen
better days.  There is nothing peculiar about clearing away
ashes per se; the peculiarity is in the Mitzvah; there is little
reason to issue a commandment to mandate an activity that would
have to be carried out in any case. Besides, the Kohanim did
their utmost to keep the Temple meticulously clean. The Talmud
(Pesachim, 64a) relates how they insisted on cleaning the Temple
on the Sabbath even in the f