Shmini: Instructions
Shmini: Instructions
The holocaust is central to my Jewish ( and general) identity. The death of Nadav and Avihu, sons of Aaron, is an often quoted passage to mollify the rage and sense of abandonment that follows in the aftermath of the Shoah. We are invited to imitate the nobility of Aaron, as he was silent after the deaths, by erroneous ritual, of his loved ones. There is some analogy to the cruel and wrongful death of so many who were so careful in their rituals. In my world, it is fitting that this story comes in the middle of the Torah.
Rashi on 10:2 tells us that Rebi Eliezer attributes the death to Nadav and Avihu's ( presumptuously) deciding questions of ritual rather than asking Moshe . Their initiative was too daring, they were inappropriate. Rabbi Ishmael says that they were intoxicated. This opinion is based upon the coda of this story. Immediately following the removal of the bodies, after Aaron is told not to publicly mourn the deaths of his sons, he is told not to drink wine prior to the service....so that the proper separation between the holy and the profane is maintained...so that are no more presumptuous misjudgments. Perhaps this is practical advice to the same purpose.
As instructed, Aaron and the remaining sons proceed with the prescribed ritual activities - mostly eating the assigned portions of the meat and meal offerings. However, they do not eat the chevon of the sin offering. This deviation from protocol angers Moshe. Moshe asks for a reason for this violation. Aaron explains that they had carried out all of the other prescribed activities, but would it have been good in the eyes of Gd if he had eaten the sin offering after the event that occurred that day?
On a day when the deadly seriousness of deviation from the commands of Moshe had been so painfully demonstrated, Aaron seems to be applying his own judgement! It would seem that out of sadness, he is tempting the force that killed his sons because of the same sin. But this time, Moshe approves, it is good in Moshe's eyes.
Rashi channels the Talmud on this subject and makes the conversation between Moshe and Aaron about the the details of the laws of performing the rite in a state of bereavement. The Talmud [Zevachim 101B] sees Aaron reminding Moshe of the rules governing the performance of the service on the day of death of a close relative and Moshe admitting that Aaron remembered the rules correctly. Perhaps the point of pivoting to Aaron reminding Moshe of a detail in the regulations is that one should not try this kind of behavior at home. Do not let the emotional or rational or any self-validated reasoning guide you against the rules .
Still, Aaron defied Moshe's instructions. My mother (A"H) used to tell me, in her role as parent... "Even when I am wrong I am right." But sometimes she admitted that I had a point. This time Moshe thought deviation from his instruction was the right thing to do.
The behavior of the bereaved Aaron and his sons may reflect the limitations of humans. There are things, including emotional things, that lie beyond the scope of capability. Thus, the Torah does not demand these things, and Moshe needed to be reminded.
Do what you can. Do it right
As instructed, Aaron and the remaining sons proceed with the prescribed ritual activities - mostly eating the assigned portions of the meat and meal offerings. However, they do not eat the chevon of the sin offering. This deviation from protocol angers Moshe. Moshe asks for a reason for this violation. Aaron explains that they had carried out all of the other prescribed activities, but would it have been good in the eyes of Gd if he had eaten the sin offering after the event that occurred that day?
On a day when the deadly seriousness of deviation from the commands of Moshe had been so painfully demonstrated, Aaron seems to be applying his own judgement! It would seem that out of sadness, he is tempting the force that killed his sons because of the same sin. But this time, Moshe approves, it is good in Moshe's eyes.
Rashi channels the Talmud on this subject and makes the conversation between Moshe and Aaron about the the details of the laws of performing the rite in a state of bereavement. The Talmud [Zevachim 101B] sees Aaron reminding Moshe of the rules governing the performance of the service on the day of death of a close relative and Moshe admitting that Aaron remembered the rules correctly. Perhaps the point of pivoting to Aaron reminding Moshe of a detail in the regulations is that one should not try this kind of behavior at home. Do not let the emotional or rational or any self-validated reasoning guide you against the rules .
Still, Aaron defied Moshe's instructions. My mother (A"H) used to tell me, in her role as parent... "Even when I am wrong I am right." But sometimes she admitted that I had a point. This time Moshe thought deviation from his instruction was the right thing to do.
The behavior of the bereaved Aaron and his sons may reflect the limitations of humans. There are things, including emotional things, that lie beyond the scope of capability. Thus, the Torah does not demand these things, and Moshe needed to be reminded.
Do what you can. Do it right
posted by Sheldon Goldberg at 8:33 AM
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