The lemsh Commukuty Center of Metropolitan Detroit
Encore Entertatment Series P resents Power, Discipline

alotifgbettg ( Duo

)11914 11, 1999
4:00 p.m.

Join us for a classical
concert to observe
Yom Hashoah,
Holocaust
Remembrance Day.
This piano - cello
mother-and-son team
will perform a world
premiere piece by
Robert Stern titled,
"Hazkarah."

Jimmy Prentis Morris Building, Oak Park
Members: $10 / Non-Members: $15

Co-Sponsored by:

DOUBLETREE

GUEST SUITES-

DETROIT • SOUTHFIELD

Funded in part by: Manny & Natalie Charach Endowment Fund; Haddow Endowment
for the Arts; DeRoy Testamentary Foundation; Boaz Siegel Culture Fund; Benard L.
Maas Foundation; Hiram Dorfman and David Engelbert Trustees; and the Ray and
Atara Zimmerman Philanthropic Fund.
*Accommodations provided by the DoubleTree Guest Suites of Southfield.

4/9
1999

60 Detroit Jewish News

Torah Portion

And Serving God

Early rabbinical commentators
point out that Aaron's two sons were`
killed because they made themselves
unholy before God. Midrashim con-
nected to the parshah relate that
God warns Nadav and Avihu about
the consequences of being overly
ambitious, envious of Moses and
Aaron's powers and impatient. These
he parshah opens with
attributes lead to their lust for posi-
,
Moses' instructions to
tion and power for which in the end
Aaron and his sons for
they must be punished.
bringing offerings to the
Rabbi Levi says that because they
sanctuary as atonement for any sins
arrogantly demeaned others, they
that they or the people may have
were punished (Leviticus
committed.
Rabbah 20:10). Rashi also
This occurred on the
identifies their sin as arro-
eighth day (Shemini means
gance. He points out that
eight) of the festival cele-
Aaron's two sons took
brating the consecration of
upon themselves the power
the sanctuary and the insti-
of deciding what to offer,
tution of the priesthood.
how to bring the offering
The instructions were
and when to bring it —
meant as the establishment
immediately following
of the procedure in the
Aaron's dramatic ceremony.
worship (or service) of God
SHARONA
They believed that they
throughout the ages.
SHAPIRO
were accountable to no
Aaron follows Moses'
Special to The
one. Nadav and Avihu
instructions carefully and
Jewish News
took the law into their
places the Offerings — a
own hands.
calf, a ram, a he goat and a
They failed to control their reli-
lamb — on the sanctuary alter. In
gious enthusiasm. They should have
offering them, Aaron, his sons and
been more humble and they were
the Israelites are to be forgiven by
punished because they occupied
God for any wrongs they may have
positions of importance, which they
done.
misused in their zeal. Rabbi Hirsch
According to the Torah, God
explains that when individuals act
sends a fire to burn everything
out of their own zeal to change or
placed on the altar. When the people
break the law, they end up disrupt-
see the fire, they fall to the ground
ing community expectations and
in prayer.
unity.
However, it was not to be a joy-
In the second half of the parshah,
ous day for Aaron. Acting on their
there is an extensive listing of
own, without a command from
dietary laws, of what is permitted
God, Aaron's two eldest sons take
and what is not permitted. Many of
pans, place fire and incense upon
our commentators believe that the
them and offer them upon the alter.
Torah is teaching us the "how" of
A few lines later, we read in the
living a life of holiness.
Torah that God admonishes the
Rabbi Abravanel declares that the
Israelites about intoxication.
foods forbidden by the Torah and by
Some the early rabbis explain
the rabbis "poison the pure and
what then happens to Nadav and
intellectual soul, clogging the
Avihu as being directly connected to
human temperament, demoralizing
the sin of intoxication. All priests
the character, promoting an unclean
after them are forbidden to enter the
spirit." In other words, they bring
sanctuary if they have drunk wine or
spiritual trouble and disaster to
alcohol. God sends fire and destroys
those who consume them.
these two men. God's message to
The philosopher Philo explains
Aaron upon the deaths of his sons is
that the laws teach human beings to
"Through those near to me, I show
control their bodily appetites. Rabbi
myself holy and assert My authority
Adin Steinsaltz, in his text The
before all the people." Aaron is silent
Thirteen Petalled Rose, expresses that
upon hearing God's judgment.
observing the dietary laws makes
Sharona Shapiro is the Michigan
one more sensitive to holiness and to
area director of the American Jewish
the tasks of bringing "all things in
Committee.

Shabbat Shemini:
Leviticus 9:1-11:47;
Numbers 28:19-25; II
Samuel 6. 1-7:17.

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