Torah-Inspired, Days of Awe Reflection of The Day…
Today we look at Sh’mini, Leviticus 9:1 – 11:47 – priestly offerings, the strange and horrible deaths of Aaron’s sons Nadav and Avihu, and the rules of kosher eating.
We can’t easily ignore the death of Aaron’s sons, here’s the full text:
Lev. 10:1 Now Aaron’s sons, Nadav and Avihu, took each-man his pan, and, placing fire in them, put smoking-incense on it, and brought-near, before the presence of Adonai, outside fire, such as he had not commanded them.
2 And fire went out from the presence of Adonai and consumed them, so that they died, before the presence of Adonai.
3 Moses said to Aaron: It is what Adonai spoke (about), saying: Through those permitted-near to me, I will be-proven-holy, before all the people, I will be-accorded-honor! Aaron was silent.
Today, during these days of reflection, I want to learn from Aaron. In the face of tragedy, personal and communal, sometimes all we can bring is our silence presence.
In this, Aaron, the one who could speak easily and well, learned from Moses, who spoke reluctantly and earlier described himself this way:
No man of words am I, not from yesterday, not from the day-before, not (even) since you have spoken to your servant, for heavy of mouth and heavy of tongue am I! (Exodus 4:10)
When struck by the worst of pains, thoughtful anguished silence may be the best we can offer.
