Reflections from Rabbi Ellis

Shmini is the third Parsha in the third book of the Torah. Shmini means eighth. It refers to the eighth day of the dedication of the Mishkan and the Kohanim. The last Parsha described how for seven days Moshe set up the Mishkan, anointed various parts of it and dedicated Aharon and his sons as the priest, Kohanim, of the Mishkan. Our Parsha begins on the eighth day, when Moshe finishes initiating his brother and nephews and Aharon and his sons finally take over. Aharon performs all of the rituals, just as his brother had, just as G!d commanded and nothing happens. Distraught and broken hearted Moshe joins his brother, they enter the Ohel Moed - the central precinct of the Mishkan - together they bless the nation and finally G!d makes his approval known by sending a fire from heaven to consume the sacrifices on the altar. The whole nation cries out in praise and song.

This is an unparalleled moment of national triumph. After the betrayal of the golden calf G!d not only forgives us, but even agrees to rest his presence amongst us. We are no longer cast aside, guilty and rejected. We have returned to G!d and he to us. Imagine Jerusalem on June 11, 1967, returning to our eternal capital with our head held high. What would it feel like to have a moment of such deep knowledge that G!d loves you.

It doesn’t last. In our Parsha the very next line after the nation's prayer of triumph Nadav and Avihu, the two oldest sons of Aharon, die. They offer a strange sacrifice that was not commanded, and a fire from G!d takes their souls. In fact the very fire that ignites and consumes the sacrifices on the altar, showing us that G!d has forgiven us, takes the lives of Aharon’s two sons.

In our Parsha we have two sets of brothers, who both enter the Ohel Moed, the holiest part of the Mishkan, against protocol. Each acting in such a way as to bring forth a fire from G!d. One pair lives for another forty years while the other dies on the spot. Why does fire from G!d spell life for one set of brothers, while it dooms another to death?

When Moshe and Aharon leave the Ohel Moed they do so together. The text refers to the two of them together as a single unit. The fire that comes from G!d here does so in response to the deepest desires of a group. When Nadav and Avihu make their offering to G!d they do so as individuals, the text states both of their names and that they each brought their own offering. The fire that comes from G!d here does so in response to the greatest wishes of two individuals.

We are a holy nation and each of us has the ability to harness the fire of G!d. When we do it for our own personal goals, no matter how lofty they may be, it consumes us. The only time we are able to live with the fire from G!d in our lives is when we use it as a tool to move our holy nation forward.

Shabbat Shalom!