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Beit Midrash
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- Vayikra
- Kdoshim
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.
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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Chukat "HOW ENTEBBE STOLE THE BICENTENNIAL
The Difference Between Historic & Eternal"
As we approach America's 250th birthday, it's worth remembering her 200th Bicentennial birthday, on Jul. 4th 1976, when Israel "stole the show" by shocking the world & miraculously saving 101 hostages in a foreign continent. As Pres. As Pres. Trump decides which countries get priority in his new Middle-East, it's worth reminding him of the difference between historic events and eternally historic ones. This obviously connects with this week's parsha, as well!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 6 - The Parable of the King of India
The advantages of testimony over circumstantial evidence or philosophical speculation.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 5- "Proofs of G-d"
This may be the most important class of the entire book, where we finally get to the Jewish proof of the existence of G-d and truth of the Torah. We should follow His own direction where He tells us how to get to Him: through the Nation of Israel: Jewish history, Jewish prophets (and today, prophecies fulfilled), and national reward & punishment towards Am Yisrael.
Ein Aya One Humanity, One Creator, One Jerusalem
Rav Kook innovatively and beautifully explains this aggadeta where our sages say that after Jerusalem was destroyed her cinnamon fragrance is only found locked in a particular kingdom's treasury.
Shlach Lecha "Why So Many Don't Make Aliya?" - Parshat Shlach
This short article deals with the weird phenomena that every single time Am Yisrael is meant to enter the Land of Israel, throughout the Tanach, 2nd Temple and until today, they "chicken out" and look for excuses. What's the problem with this mitzvah that proves so challenging. The article, based on sources, suggests that the difficulties of Eretz Yisrael is precisely her secret and beauty!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 4
The class deals with Islam and how the Muslim tries convincing the King of the Khazars, and why he was also rejected.
Beha'alotcha JEWISH STATE= GUIDE TO G-DLINESS & SELFLESSNESS
A Jewish State not only is a good idea, but educates us towards selflessness, altruism and G-dliness in our daily lives.
Ein Aya In Zion Even the Smoke of the Bark is Sweet
Just as Jewish nationalism is different from others, so too our capitol of Jerusalem is totally different than other national capitols. Rav Kook beautifully explains the passage in the Talmud that the trees of Yerushalayim were cinnamon trees.
