"And all the people saw, sang praises, and fell upon their faces"(Leviticus 9:24) Adar Sheni 26, 5784/April 5, 2024 This week's Torah reading, Shemini, opens with a succinct, yet nevertheless overwhelming description of the opening ceremonies of the newly established desert Tabernacle. While the description of the myriad offerings brought by Aharon to the altar is, indeed, presented in great detail, the response elicited by the children of Israel and the heavenly response to the appearance of the offerings is presented in just a few short, yet, nevertheless, breathtaking sentences: "And Aharon lifted up his hands towards the people and blessed them. He then descended from preparing the sin offering, the burnt offering, and the peace offering. And Moshe and Aharon went into the Tent of Meeting. Then they came out and blessed the people, and the glory of HaShem appeared to all the people. And fire went forth from before HaShem and consumed the burnt offering and the fats upon the altar, and all the people saw, sang praises, and fell upon their faces." (Leviticus 9:22-24) It would seem to be nothing less than an ecstatic moment of profound and overpowering joy experienced by an entire nation. As it should have been, for this was, arguably, the greatest day in the history of mankind, second only to the receiving of Torah at Sinai. For on this day, as we clearly read, HaShem's immanent Presence has entered into the Tabernacle. Just as HaShem had proposed to Moshe, "They shall make for Me a sanctuary, and I will dwell amongst them," (Exodus 25:8), so has it happened. Israel has fashioned a Tabernacle out of wood and fabric and animal skins, and HaShem has come to dwell amongst His people forever. "Vayehi bayom hashemini - And it was on the eighth day," (Leviticus 9:1) our parasha begins. Torah is referring to the eighth day following the seven days of rehearsals performed by Aharon and his sons, the kohanim, which preceded the inauguration of the Tabernacle. But the notion of an eighth day, a day beyond the six days of creation and the seventh day of rest, suggests the utterly fabulous and miraculous nature of the moment. Such a historically significant day on the one hand, stands completely outside of history, on the other. It is nothing less than the final and concluding day of creation, the day that HaShem's sole motivation and intention for creation has been realized: to dwell amongst the children of Adam, His most prized creation. The eyes that witnessed the moment, the voices that sang out in exultation and the hearts that overflowed with jubilation remain today, implanted deep within each of our souls. A singular moment such as this remains embedded within our very beings. Yet, just moments after this astonishing instant of Divine and human fulfillment, tragedy strikes. Swept away by events, the two eldest sons of Aharon, Nadav and Avihu, “each took his pan, put fire in them, and placed incense upon it, and they brought before HaShem foreign fire, which He had not commanded them. And fire went forth from before HaShem and consumed them, and they died before HaShem." (ibid 10:12) The Torah's treatment of this shocking development is every bit as succinct as the description of the ecstatic moment that preceded it. Moshe delivers a quick message of comfort to Aharon, and "And Aharon was silent." (ibid 10:3) Moshe arranges for the bodies of the two boys to be quickly removed from the Tabernacle and taken outside of the Israelite encampment. And that is how the incident ends. We aren't told of the reaction of an entire nation that only a moment ago was face down on the ground in the presence of the glory of HaShem. Shocked, no doubt, were they terrified? Did they cry out for an explanation? Or did they take Aharon's lead and express their loss with a thundering silence. We are not told. The Torah chooses not to dwell overlong on either the ecstasy of the one moment, or the agony of the next. It does go on to order a prohibition against the imbibing of intoxicating beverages for Aharon and his sons serving in the Tabernacle, "so that you shall not die." (ibid 10:9) Are we to learn from this that Nadav and Avihu had, indeed, indulged in drink which led to their ill fated offering? Or perhaps the Torah is taking the opportunity to present an extra guard rail against potential misconduct in the future. It is HaShem's desire for the dwelling of His presence amongst His people to be part of the norm, a daily feature of the communal life of the nation, an awe-inspiring yet not ill-conceived-adventure-inspiring fact of life. The continuation of parashat Shemini seems to emphasize this as it presents a long list of animals which are permissible to eat and animals whose flesh is forbidden to eat. Integrating G-d's presence into our lives through how we lead our daily lives is the Torah's prescription for attaining an appropriate degree of holiness in our lives. It is precisely the mundane that we are encouraged to lift up by adhering to HaShem's instructions, and by doing so achieve the nearness to HaShem that Nadav and Avihu fatally aspired to. The story of Nadav and Avihu is not the first time in Torah that we experience a great fall after a great high. Adam, whose body was shaped by the hand of G-d and whose soul was inspired by the breath of G-d, quickly squandered his exalted existence in Eden by defying G-d's sole command and eating from the Tree of Knowledge. In an instant his lofty status was cosmically diminished, the lush bounty of Eden being replaced by a land of thorns and thistles. A similar fall occurred following Israel's receiving of Torah, when the people fell prey to the lure of the golden calf. Our sages teach us that upon receiving Torah, Israel regained Adam's original above-death status, and the generation would have lived forever had they not erred in worshiping the golden calf, plunging them once again into the mortal world of birth and death, of generation following generation. In each of these cases both Adam and later, Israel, did what had been forbidden to them. But in the instance of Nadav and Avihu, their undertaking had not been proscribed. It simply had not been commanded. Their initiative, as innocent and well intended as it might have been, was tragically out of place. When Israel entered in a contract with HaShem at Sinai, it was agreed by both parties, the human and the Divine, that each party would preserve the covenant by abiding by its does and don'ts, neither adding nor subtracting from the commandments clearly laid out. Nadav and Avihu's error was fatal, not because it angered haShem, (we see no evidence of that), but simply because it was out of place. HaShem is real. His infinite, omnipotent and omniscient presence, beyond our touch and comprehension is real. And so is His Presence, palpable and all-powerful, in our everyday lives real, and must be respected. If our love for G-d and desire to be near His presence leads us to recklessness we will suffer the consequences. The high and the low of the eighth day, the day of the dedication of the Tabernacle, which took place on the first day of the month of Nisan, the first of the months, teaches us that our task as the beloved children of G-d is to integrate HaShem's presence into our lives, to "choose life," (Deuteronomy 30:19) as Moshe exhorts us in His final words to Israel. We can approach the high of the moment and escape the lows by walking humbly with HaShem and not boldly rushing headlong into an impossible and tragic end. The Torah and the Tabernacle/Temple, HaShem's voice and place in the world provide for us such a safe and sacred path. . |
Ashes of the Red Heifer! The Temple Institute is dedicated to doing everything in our power to help make HaShem's dream come true in our day. Join us as we work together to make for HaShem "a house of prayer for all nations!" Donate generously to the Temple Institute |
Tune in to this week's Temple Talk, as Yitzchak Reuven talks about fire from heaven & the priestly blessing! the first day of Nisan, about the creation of the world, part II, and about Nadav & Avihu, who are swept away by the spiritual power of the moment! On the eighth day, following seven days of rehearsals, Aharon, Kohen Gadol and his sons inaugurate the desert Tabernacle. The eighth day is actually the first day of Nisan, "the first of the months of the year." (Exodus 12:2), a day festooned with ten crowns, a day in which the Tabernacle, the final piece of creation, is set in place, welcoming HaShem into our midst! |
Help To Build The Holy Temple In Our Time! Donate Generously To Help The Sacred Work Of The Temple Institute! Every contribution helps to rebuild the Holy Temple in our Time! |
The heart vs the brain, emotions vs the intellect: this is a running conflict within all of us, and both sides of the conflict are made apparent in the ceremony oh the dedication of the Tabernacle. Moshe expected things to go as planned, but Aharon and his four sons also brought their emotions to the performance of the ceremony, making for a few bumps along the way. Shemini (Leviticus 9:1 - 11:47)
Parashat Shemini is read on Shabbat:
Adar Sheni 27, 5784/April 6, 2024 |
Haftarah For Shabbat Parashat Shemini/HaChodesh This Shabbat, known as Shabbat HaChodesh, we read the final of four additional Torah readings read during the month of Adar. The haftarah read on Shabbat HaChodesh is from Ezekiel 45:18 - 46:15: "So says HaShem G-d: In the first month, on the first of the month, you shall take a young bull without blemish, and you shall purify the sanctuary. And the kohen shall take of the blood of the sin-offering and put it on the doorpost of the House, and on the four corners of the ledge of the altar and on the doorpost of the gate of the Inner Court...'' |
The Mikdash: The Heichal (Kodesh) And The Kodesh Kodeshim In the Heichal the following vessels were found: the Menorah in the south, the Table of the Showbread in the north and between them, in the center of the Heichal, the Incense Altar. The Ark of the Covenant was situated in the Holy of Holies. (Sources: Midot 4 and 7; Yoma). |
Parashat Hachodesh: "The First Of Your Months! This Shabbat we will be reading in synagogues around the world the fourth and final special Torah Reading read throughout the month of Adar. Parashat HaChodesh, from the book of Exodus, chapter 12, verses 1-22, informs us of the very first commandment Israel as a nation received from HaShem, while still in Egypt: "HaShem spoke to Moshe and to Aharon in the land of Egypt, saying, This month shall be to you the head of the months; to you it shall be the first of the months of the year..." |
Silver Trumpets For The Israel Defense Forces! "If you go to war in your land against an adversary that oppresses you, you shall blow a teruah with the trumpets and be remembered before HaShem your G-d, and thus be saved from your enemies." (Numbers 10:9) |
The Mikdash (Sanctuary) The Mikdash is built of three parts: The Ulam (Hall); the Kodesh (the Holy area) also known as the Heichal, and the Kodesh Kodashim, the Holy of Holies. Together they are all called the Heichal (according to the Rambam's Laws of the Beit Habechira). On the sides of the Heichal was a series of small compartments, whose purpose is not explained in the texts. |
A Kohen Fit To Perform The Red Heifer Ceremony! The young kohen in the photo visiting the red heifer candidates in Shiloh, is fit to perform the red heifer ceremony. He came into the world via home birth, has never set foot in a hospital or cemetery, and therefore considered by halacha (Jewish law) to be of the highest level of Torah purity, having never contracted tum'at met (impurity imparted by contact with a corpse). |
Parashat Shemini: Prohibition Of Alcohol For Kohanim On Duty In this week's parashah, Shemini, following the tragic deaths of Nadav and Avihu, sons of Aharon, Moshe instructs their cousins, Mishael and Eltzaphan to remove their bodies from the Tabernacle and place them outside the encampment. The HaShem speaks directly to Aharon: "And HaShem spoke to Aharon, saying, Do not drink wine that will lead to intoxication, neither you nor your sons with you, when you go into the Tent of Meeting, so that you shall not die..." |
The Gates Of The Southern Court: The Upper Gate The Upper Gate was the most western of the four southern gates of the Court. Some say it was called this because it was situated on the ascent of the mountain. Some call the Nikanor Gate the "Upper Gate" (See Talmud Yerushalmi: Eruvin 5:1 and the Rambam, Beit Habechira 5:5). In this case, the word "upper" would signify "above the Women's Court." |
Parashat Shemini: The Death Of Nadav & Avihu In this week's parashat Shemini, immediately after the Torah's description of the jubilant opening ceremonies of the desert Tabernacle, we are told tragic news:
"And Aharon's sons, Nadav and Avihu, each took his pan, put fire in them, and placed incense upon it, and they brought before HaShem foreign fire, which He had not commanded them. And fire went forth from before HaShem and consumed them, and they died before HaShem..." |
Mikdash Monday - Pesach (Part 1) “Take heed of the month of spring, when you will celebrate Pesach for Hashem, your G-d; for in the month of spring, Hashem, your G-d, took you out from Egypt at night.” (Devarim 16:1) |
The Gate Of The Southern Court: The Gate Of Kindling The Gate of Kindling was one of the four southern gates of the Court. Through this gate, wood was brought in for the mizbeach wood piles. (Source: Midot 1:3). All the gates of the Temple were 20 cubits in height and ten cubits in width and they had doors that were overlaid in gold. (Source: Midot 2:3.) |
This Week: Parashat Shemini: Inauguration Of The Tabernacle In the concluding verses of last week's Torah reading, Tzav, Aharon and his sons were instructed by Moshe to "...stay day and night for seven days at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. You shall observe HaShem's command, so that you will not die, for thus I was commanded. And Aharon and his sons did all the things that HaShem commanded through Moshe."_ (Leviticus 8:35-36) |
Shavua Tov From The Temple Mount! "Who will ascend upon HaShem's mount and who will stand in His Holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not taken My name in vain and has not sworn deceitfully. He shall receive a blessing from HaShem and charity from the G-d of his salvation. This is the generation of those who seek Him, who seek Your presence - Yaakov, forever." (Psalms 24:3-6) In contradiction to the above verses, the Temple Mount is currently closed to Jews and Gentiles until the end of Ramadan. |
Build a House for HaShem! "Be strong and have courage! Build a House for HaShem!" In this scene from a film soon to become an integral part of the Temple Institute's Jerusalem based Visitors Center experience, the prophet Samuel charges King David with the task of building the Holy Temple! |
The Glory of this Last House Shall be Greater than the First! "The Glory of this Last House Shall be Greater than the First!" In this scene from a film soon to become an integral part of the Temple Institute's Jerusalem based Visitors Center experience, Zerubavel from the house of David and Kohen Gadol (High Priest) Yehoshua consult with the prophet Haggai who instructs them to waste no time in rebuilding the Holy Temple! |
Red Heifers Arrive In Israel! On Thursday, September 15, 2022, 5 PM, 5 perfect, unblemished red heifers arrived in Israel from the USA. A modest ceremony was held at the unloading bay of the cargo terminal at Ben Gurion airport, where the new arrivals were greeted and speeches were made by the incredible people who have put their hearts and souls and means into making this historic/prophetic day become a reality. |
Biblical Red Heifer Could Bring Million Visitors To Samaria The Ancient Shiloh heritage site will soon host a Red Heifer research center. Hundreds of visitors flocked to Shiloh in Samaria’s Binyamin region on Thursday to welcome a biblically pure red heifer. The 22-month-old cow, which was brought to Israel from the United States, found a new home at the Ancient Shiloh heritage site, where the biblical Tabernacle once stood. |
Blessings from the holy city of Jerusalem!
Yitzchak Reuven
The Temple Institute |
|
Posts