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Beit Midrash
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intoxicated; they added a new offering that had not been commanded to them or added an extra ingredient to the Korban.
Which is correct? That is never specified.
What IS clear is that Nadav & Avihu were righteous people; Moshe explicitly says so. He assures Ahron that his sons were even greater than they themselves are! This is why Ahron is stunned into silence: He is at an emotional impasse, pulled in two very opposite directions; he grieves for the loss of his children, yet at the same time, he rejoices that his sons lived, & died, as holy individuals.
But, of course, this only complicates matters. If they truly were such great tzadikim, then why did they have to die?
The key to this puzzle may be found in two little words: "Lifnei Hashem." The pasuk says Nadav and Avihu 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 dwelt). But "before G-d" 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 They were so determined to connect to Hashem, they superseded even His directives!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 commander 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, & then puts him into jail for disobeying orders.
There are times when we so want to impress G-d, when we are so filled with religious ecstasy, that we lose our 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 & ends up injuring 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 the very best of intentions.
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Sukkot Bug-Free Sukkah: Essential Halachic and Practical Schach Guide
How to inspect, clean, and store bamboo mats and palm branches to protect your mitzvah and holiday meals.
Shoftim TESHUVA IN COURT OF LAW?
Parshat Shoftim-Chodesh Elul
Why does parshat Shoftim always come out during Elul? This innovative and central explanation is an eye-opener regarding many aspects of Judaism.
The Month of Elul TESHUVA IS THE ANSWER
The month of Elul serves as a vital time for self-reflection and personal accountability to prepare for true repentance.
P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Realtor’s Fee on Large Commercial Building – part I
(based on ruling 85031 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 85031 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
