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Shiurim & Adult Education
THOUGHTS ON PARASHAT SHMINI BY RABBI AVI SON
Following an immense process of construction, a process of generosity and kindness, of egalitarianism and unity, of hope and holiness, the Mishkan was finally complete. It was on the eighth day that the avoda, the service, in the Mishkan finally began. Topically for this time of year, the obvious question is ‘who knows 8?’ or more aptly ‘what does eight represent?’ We know that the number seven represents wholeness, completion and reality: seven days of creation, seven (kosher) animals in the ark, seven days of Succot and Pesach, seven days of shiva and sheva brachot, seven Noachide laws etc. Seven is about the reality of the world around us. Therefore, eight represents something above and beyond the physical, spiritual realm: Shemini Atzeret, Brit Milah, Chanukah etc. Eight represents something beyond, a spiritual truth and reality that not everyone can see. And so it was befitting that the shechina would descend and the temple service would begin on the eighth day.
In this week’s parsha we also have one of the saddest episodes in the Torah, the death of Nadav and Avihu, Aharon’s two sons. After going into the Kodesh Kedoshim to perform unauthorised service to Hashem, they are consumed by a fire from within and killed. The sages grapple with the question as to why they deserved such a harsh punishment, what was the sin they committed that warranted such fatal retribution? Rabbi Yishmael infers, from the fact that this episode is juxtaposed with the prohibition for Kohanim to become intoxicated during their service, that Nadav and Avihu had become drunk when they went to make this offering to Hashem, and this is why they were punished so harshly.
Not only are the Kohanim not allowed to become drunk when they are on duty, they actually are prohibited from drinking at all. Rabbi Simcha Bunam of Peshischa explains that joy should come from the avoda, from the service and proximity to Hashem, not from external sources like alcohol. We can extrapolate from this even further and learn an important lesson: Our joy in Judaism doesn’t come from hiding from, numbing or obfuscating the truth of the world around us, which is why people turn to alcohol or other intoxicants, it comes from the opposite – opening our eyes to recognize the truth around us, the beauty of the world that Hashem created for us and the wonderful opportunities contained within.
This links to the name of our Parsha, Shemini. We are a nation of ‘eight’. We are a people who don’t just see the physical universe around us as it is, but rather we witness the world through the prism of spiritual potential and possibilities, we have the ability to be more and to achieve more. We don’t need to turn away to external sources of joy, our joy comes from our service, our connection with Hashem, if we can locate and find and increase this joy, we will be able to once again welcome Hashem to live amongst us and, Please G-d, this will lead to the ultimate redemption and the building of the third Beit HaMikdash, may it comes speedily in our days!
Shabbat shalom
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