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While numerous reasons are given for their deaths, they can all be summed up by the first pasuk in our reading, "B’karvatam lifnei Hashem, vayamutu." They came (too) close to G-d - and they died. All their acts – adding to the prescribed offering; entering the Mishkan when it was not called for; getting drunk; even refraining from having children – all these were done in an effort to supercharge their spirituality and come closer to the Almighty.
But how do we reconcile Nadav and Avihu’s fate with the opening pasuk of our second Sedra: "Kedoshim tih’yu, ki kadosh ani Hashem Elokeychem; Be holy, for I, G-d, am Holy." If Hashem wants us to be "kadosh/holy" – a word which means, "to separate ourselves for a higher purpose," then isn’t this exactly what Nadav and Avihu did?!
I want to suggest that Nadav and Avihu were not so much punished, as they were the victims of their own actions. They took so much upon themselves, they so "overloaded their circuits" with such massive spiritual energy, that the whole system broke down, and they experienced burn-out. They came too close to the Heavenly fire and, despite their good intentions, their wings got singed and they crashed.
There is a profound lesson to be learned here. G-d surely wants us to get close to Him, to come under His wings and within His protective force-field. But if we get too close, if we cross the Divine line into the "red zone," we risk losing everything and plummeting into the depths of despair.
I had a friend once who was determined to start a Yeshiva – no small undertaking. He devoted himself to that noble cause night and day, 24/7. In doing so, he neglected everything else, including his family. He stopped being a normal human being living a normal life, with its mix of business and pleasure, Torah and time out. He was unable to relax, to enjoy and to partake of G-d’s world. He would not even listen to his own Rebbe, who pleaded with him to not be so obsessed. In the end, tragically, he lost it all – his friends, his family and then the Yeshiva itself.
The end of our double-Sedra discusses the idea of "Havdala - separation. We have to separate from unholy practices, from the impure and the treif. But NOT from life itself! We have to know how to balance acting holy – and
acting human - all at the same time. No easy task, but our mission nonetheless.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
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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.
