Israel 75: A Humble Celebration
As we offer unwavering support to Israel, we must do so with a humble acknowledgment of our dependence on God.
Parshat Acharei-Mot is very familiar to us as it includes the two Torah portions that we read during Yom Kippur services both at Shacharit and Mincha. However, interestingly, the Torah introduces Parshat Acharei Mot with a reference to the passing of Aaron's sons, Nadav and Avihu. And this event is actually the source of the parsha’s name - Acharei Mot, meaning "after their death".
וַיִּקְח֣וּ בְנֵֽי־אַ֠הֲרֹן נָדָ֨ב וַאֲבִיה֜וּא אִ֣ישׁ מַחְתָּת֗וֹ וַיִּתְּנ֤וּ בָהֵן֙ אֵ֔שׁ וַיָּשִׂ֥ימוּ עָלֶ֖יהָ קְטֹ֑רֶת וַיַּקְרִ֜בוּ לִפְנֵ֤י ה’ אֵ֣שׁ זָרָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֧ר לֹ֦א צִוָּ֖ה אֹתָֽם׃ וַתֵּ֥צֵא אֵ֛שׁ מִלִּפְנֵ֥י ה’ וַתֹּ֣אכַל אוֹתָ֑ם וַיָּמֻ֖תוּ לִפְנֵ֥י ה’׃
Aaron’s sons Nadav and Avihu each took his fire pan, put fire in it, and laid incense on it; and they offered before God an alien fire, which had not been commanded. And fire came forth from God and consumed them; thus they died at the instance of God. [Leviticus: 10:1-2]
The juxtaposition of Nadav and Avihu's passing to Parshat Acharei Mot holds a profound message about how to approach Yom Kippur. As we read in Parshat Shemini two weeks ago, Nadav and Avihu were instantly consumed by a fire from heaven and died while sanctifying God's name.
Moshe comforted Aharon by explaining that the words “bikrovai akadesh” " which means “I will sanctify with those closest to me,” referred to the sense of holiness that their deaths brought to the Jewish people.
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר מֹשֶׁ֜ה אֶֽל־אַהֲרֹ֗ן הוּא֩ אֲשֶׁר־דִּבֶּ֨ר ה’ לֵאמֹר֙ בִּקְרֹבַ֣י אֶקָּדֵ֔שׁ וְעַל־פְּנֵ֥י כָל־הָעָ֖ם אֶכָּבֵ֑ד וַיִּדֹּ֖ם אַהֲרֹֽן׃
Then Moses said to Aaron, “This is what God meant by saying: Through those near to Me I show Myself holy, And gain glory before all the people.” And Aaron was silent. [Leviticus 10:3]
Chazal have proposed various explanations to account for the transgression that led to Nadav and Avihu's severe punishment, and the lessons the episode can teach us. However, it is worth noting that when the sages cannot agree on a significant question, they may be in disagreement and seem to be grasping at straws, because there is no definitive answer. For example, we find a similar concept when our sages provide reasons for why Moses was not permitted to enter Israel. The fact is, we may never fully comprehend why certain negative events occurred in the Torah. Nonetheless, we can still derive insights by identifying commonalities among the sages' explanations.
During my study of this topic in Yeshiva, we concluded that all the suggestions by our sages for why Nadav and Avihu were consumed by a fire, shared a common underlying fault: A certain level of haughtiness that they exhibited. For example, one midrash suggests that Nadav and Avihu's punishment was warranted because they remained single, supposedly believing that no woman was worthy of them. Another source proposed that they drank wine during or prior to the holy service, an inappropriate and disrespectful behavior. And still others suggest that they made a ruling about the "strange fire" without consulting their teacher Moses, demonstrating a lack of humility and respect for authority.
Under normal circumstances, none of these actions would be deemed serious transgressions. However, Nadav and Avihu, as the sons of Aaron, were in a prominent position during the dedication of the holy Mishkan, and so the burden of that spotlight meant that even their slightest mistake would be magnified.
This brings us back to the significance of Yom Kippur, a time when God shines a spotlight on each of us. The message of Acharei Mot is that we must approach Yom Kippur, our own personal spiritual spotlight, with a different mindset than we have on ordinary days. We must remember the deaths of Nadav and Avihu, who failed to show proper respect during their holy moment. Only by facing the prospect of our own mortality can we maintain the humility necessary to avoid falling into the same trap of haughtiness that they did.
As we celebrate Israel's 75th anniversary, it's important to reflect on the incredible accomplishments of our Jewish nation since its inception. However, we must also heed the cautionary tale of Nadav and Avihu and avoid becoming arrogant in our celebration. It's crucial to remember that, like Nadav and Avihu, we and Israel are constantly in the public eye and are therefore held to a higher standard.
After the Six-Day War instead of acknowledging God's role in their miraculous victory, our Israeli brethren chanted slogans like "Kol hakavod l'tzahal!" (Way to go, IDF!) and omitted mention of God, just as the founders of Israel omitted it in Israel’s Declaration of Independence. That is an approach we must be careful to avoid.
It is important to remember that all of our individual and national accomplishments ultimately stem from God's blessings and guidance. Despite Israel's remarkable achievements, the country still faces significant political and existential challenges that cannot be overcome alone. As we navigate these complex challenges, it is crucial to act with humility and trust in God's guidance.
As we offer unwavering support to Israel, we must do so with a humble acknowledgment of our dependence on God. By expressing genuine humility in our prayers and actions, especially during Israel's 75th celebration, we can hope for the coming of Mashiach and the blessings of peace and prosperity for Israel.
Shabbat shalom.