Shemini 5783 ~ April 14, 2023

As we bid adieu to the festival of Pesach, we might find ourselves desirous of simply a return to a normal moment in our lives. That normalcy has a crescendo with the arrival of Shabbat. In many ways, it gives us time to reflect on how wonderful our Passover experience might have been.

Yet, at the same time, as we read this Shabbat’s Torah reading, parashat Shemini, we are finding ourselves once again gasping for air. Why gasping for air?

A good part of our Torah reading for Shabbat deals with reward and punishment and  the death of Aaron’s two sons, Nadav and Avihu. And while the end provides us with the concept of kashrut and dietary laws, it is the concept of tragic death that surrounds this Shabbat’s reading.

How does Aaron cope with his loss? (Nothing is mentioned about his wife and their mother.) As the spiritual head of religious life, the requirements for Aaron are much different than the average person. Yet, what we are struck with during this Shabbat’s reading, is Aaron’s response to his son’s death. The Torah states: “vayidom Aharon,”  Aaron remains silent.  For there are no words to describe the tragic moment. Needless to say, the tragic events of terrorism  at the hands of Hamas and Palestinian terrorists that those in Israel are facing are simply just as shocking. Unfortunately, the world today senses these deaths, not as we do. Too many in our world sympathize with the Palestinians, misunderstanding the truth of why they remain in their past rather than finding a way to create peace between neighbors. In that regard we, as a Jewish people and those with a love of Israel find ourselves gasping for air.

At the same time, we continue to gasp for air, as we as Jewish world commemorate Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Memorial Day.  We are mindful of the many who perished at the hands of the Nazis, may their memories be blotted out. May their actions be remembered, solely for the purpose of reminding the world of the atrocities and the silence of the entire world.

While Aaron remained silent, as the Jewish world we must not. We must stand to protect Jewish individuals and institutions throughout the world. And while we may not always agree with the politics in Israel, we should speak of its successes and accomplishments, not only within its borders, but in how Israel has dynamically made a difference in our world in so many different areas. We must always be vocal about Israel’s need not only for secure borders, but its true desire for shalom and a peaceful coexistence with its neighbors. If only the others in the region and the world would so wish and work together to foster that peace….

Shabbat shalom.

Rabbi K