The Torah details the offerings, beginning with the daily sacrifices (28:1-8) and continuing with the Shabbat and special occasion offerings (28:9-15). Nestled in the instructions for the daily offering is the phrase that “the continual offering will be done as [it was on] Har Sinai (Mount Sinai), as a smell of satisfaction, a fire to G-d” (28:6). Considering that the daily offering was previously instructed, what does this passuk add that we did not already know?
Rav Y. T. Salant suggests that the nuance in this commandment is for the daily offering to be offered as if it was the first time it was offered on Sinai, with the same enthusiasm, concentration, and intent. Daily actions can become mindless acts if we are not careful to keep their intentions fresh in our minds. Smell and fire are two elements of nature that affect their surroundings without diminishing themselves. Keeping our mundane acts fresh creates a positive environment for growth that is contagious.
