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Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Vayikra
- Shmini
Commentators offer a variety of different reasons for their death:
- They decided a law in front of their rabbis, Moshe & Ahron;
- They were intoxicated;
- They added a new offering to the Avoda othat had not been commanded to them;
- They added an extra ingredient to the Korban.
The fact that there are so many diverse opinions seems to indicate that no one really is sure exactly what went on here.
What IS clear is that Nadav & Avihu were extremely righteous people; this we know because Moshe explicitly tells us so. In fact, he assures Ahron that his sons were even greater than they – Moshe & Ahron - are! And this, by the way, is why Ahron is stunned into silence ("Vayidom Ahron"): He finds himself at an "emotional impasse:" He grieves for the loss of his children, yet at the same time he rejoices that his sons lived, & died, as "wholly holy" individuals.
But, of course, this only complicates matters. If they were such tzadikim, then why did they die?
I suggest that the key to this puzzle can be found in two little words: "Lifnei Hashem." The pasuk tells us that they died when they offered strange fire "before G-d." Now, that phrase can mean, literally, "in front of Hashem" (i.e. they brought their offering in the Mishkan, where G-d’s presence most intensely dwelt). But "before Hashem" can also mean "preceding Hashem," as in, "I go before you in line, I take precedence."
In other words, while Nadav & Avihu certainly worshipped Hashem, they overstepped their bounds in their desire to come close to Him. They were so determined to connect to Hashem, they superseded even HIS directives!
It's comparable to a soldier who finds a comrade pinned down by enemy forces. His commanding officer orders him to stay put, because the situation is too dangerous. But the soldier is so determined to rescue his fellow soldier that he rushes forward, kills the enemy, and saves his friend's life. The commander praises the soldier for extreme bravery, and then puts him into jail for disobeying orders.
And so, because they disobeyed orders from the Supreme Commander, because they came TOO close to the fire - or, to put it another way, because they were TOO passionate - Nadav & Avihu suffered terminal "burn-out," & were no more.
There are times when we so want to impress G-d, when we are so filled with religious ecstasy, that we lose perspective. And then we lose control; we do things that we think will bring us closer to Hashem when, in reality, it only drives us further away from Him & injures us spiritually. We forget that G-d comes first & that He has the final say, even if we don’t approve.
The road to hell-fire, alas, is all too often paved with good intentions.
Rabbis in Midrash
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Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 9 - "Seeing is Believing" (parag. 21-30)
These paragraphs elaborate on the theme that seeing and knowing is better than any attempt to prove logically, and begins explaining the difference between Israel and gentiles.
Ein Aya Various Universal Stages of the Geula Process
Rav Kook examines the various stages of redemption, explaining how (in addition to the obvious oft-mentioned stages of ingathering the exiles, reviving the Hebrew language, army, state etc.) the messianic dream of world prosperity, the State of Israel and world unity can and are realistically and logically gradually coming true.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
How do we know that the "claim" of mass revelation to 2,000,000 witnesses at Mt. Sinai is really true? This important class answers all of the questions skeptics ask about this claim of the Kuzari.
Ein Aya Armies Still Necessary for Balance & the War Against Wars
Rav Kook explains why the world was originally divided into the various seemingly contradicting ideologies and cultures, in order to develop each one respectively. Swords or armies symbolize how each respective ideology defends themselves, as well as deters their opposing ideologies and cultures. On the other hand, the messianic era will be one of peace, and Rav Kook explains the transition to that stage, which mankind is already undergoing.
The Land of Israel LGBT'S IN ISRAEL
The question was asked, how can one make Aliyah with the LGBT parades?
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 7 - Five Accumulative Proofs of G-d
As a preparation for the Kuzari's classic proof of G-d from the mass-revelation at Sinai, we start here with 5 other directions to strengthen our belief which also contribute to what the Kuzari will present as well.
Ein Aya Muscle & Meaning: The Dual Nature of Gevurah (Physical Strength)
Is physical strength and fitness a necessity or an ideal? Although it if often totally overlooked among topics of Judaism, Rav Kook writes that it clearly is also a necessity to deter the many enemies of Israel, but even in Y'mot HaMashiach, in the Messianic era, to a certain extent, it's ideal continues even after our enemies will have been finished off.
