Weekly Announcements
Ahavat Yisrael of Wesley Hills Announcements
Shmini
Shabbos Mevorchim
Apr 25 – May 1
27 Nissan – 3 Iyar
Mazal Tov to Ellen & Dov Pincus on the upcoming wedding of their daughter Rocky to Elazar Krausz
Mazal Tov to Sharona & Tamir Katz on the birth of a granddaughter in Israel to their children Nava & James Heisler
Mazal Tov to Laya and Rabbi Asher Bush on the birth of a granddaughter to Shevy and Ari Krasnow
Kiddush is sponsored by Eve & Irwin Hollander in commemoration of the yatzheit for Eve's mother Esther Rachel bas Zvi Meir halevi
SCHEDULE
FRIDAY (4/25)
Mincha: 7:00 PM
Candles not after: 7:29 PM
Count 13 night of the Omer
SHABBOS (4/26)
Shacharis: 9:00 AM
Latest time for shma: 9:27 AM
Parsha Shiur: 6:30 PM
Mincha: 7:15 PM
Shabbos Ends/Tehillim: 8:33 PM
Maariv: 8:39 PM
SUNDAY (4/27)
Shacharis: 8:00 AM
Rabbi’s Gemara Shiur at shul and zoom: 8:45 AM https://zoom.us/j/3812539596
Mincha/Maariv: 7:30 PM
MONDAY – THURSDAY (4/28-5/1)
Tehillim: 8:55 PM
Maariv: 9:00 PM
Monday: Rosh Chodesh Iyar
Tuesday: Rosh Chodesh Iyar
Wednesday: Yom Hazikaron
Wednesday: Parsha previews on zoom 8:00 PM https://zoom.us/j/3812539596
Thursday: Yom Haatzmaut
Dvar Torah & Thoughts on Shmini
Rabbi Asher Bush
Following the tragic deaths of Nadav & Avihu, speaking specifically with Aharon, God gave the law that a Cohen may not serve in the Mishkan/Mikdash if he has drunk, nor may one teach and rule on Torah/Halacha be if one has been drinking. This leads some to suggest that here the Torah is providing more insight into the sin of Nadav and Avihu, that it was their intoxication that led them to their sin. Others have objected to this explanation as it simply would not be fair or right, after all, how can they be blamed for violating a law that was only given in the aftermath of their deaths. Many parents have no such lack of understanding as they too expect or at least hope that they have trained their children well enough so that they don’t have to tell them everything, so much so that they would indeed be most disturbed if certain behaviors took place even though they were never spoken of. [A similar question is raised in Parshas Shoftim regarding the fact that the Torah mentions ובגלל התועבות האלה ה' א' מוריש אותם מפניך/that on account of these abominations (sorcery and witchcraft) God is expelling the Canaanites from the land, even though these activities are not among the Seven Laws given to Noach.]
But that is really not the point here, as the Torah has never suggested that their sin was intoxication, as it had clearly stated that ויקריבו לפני ה' אש זרה אשר לא צוה אותם/they had brought a strange fire which they had not been commanded. The topic at hand is not what they did but how they could have done so, or what could have led them to act or think this was acceptable. To this question the answer could well be that they were intoxicated.
Accordingly, it is in this spirit the Mitzvah given to Aharon could be understood as a path to avoiding such situations in the future. Although I would hesitate to assume such a direct and blunt statement is being made at this point, as such a suggestion would almost seem out of place and even inappropriate to give when his pain is so fresh and raw. So, this is more about the future than the past, more about safeguarding holiness rather than blaming Nadav & Avihu. In the aftermath of a tragedy there is often a call and even a desire for soul-searching, this is natural and at least in concept, a good thing. But in real life it often is anything but good or useful as all too often it turns into a “blame game” or a tragedy is used to pitch a preexisting agenda. There is nothing that can be done about the past, but it is certainly a time to think about the future.
Whatever may have led them to desecrate the Mishkan during its inaugural sanctification was something that could happen in so many ways, perhaps lessoning the level of holiness, perhaps degrading that holiness, and perhaps even destroying all that is holy. So, at this moment of soul-searching, they are given clear guidance for the future, service in the Mishkan or ruling of God’s holy Torah can only be done with the clearest of thinking, with the clearest of heads and with full sobriety. Anything less is just asking for more of the same heartache.
This is seen even more clearly in the words of the Abarbanel, who writes this comment on the next chapter, where the Torah teaches about the kosher and non-kosher animals. Explaining, that after the Mishkan was erected and the Cohanim were installed, they were commanded regarding intoxication since the eyes of the nation were upon them, waiting for inspiration, waiting for instruction to help them distinguish between the holy and the prophane, the pure and the impure Perhaps this is a big part of the story, that being a Cohen, being a teacher of Torah, and yes, just being a member of the ממלכת כהנים וגוי קדוש/Kingdom of Priests and a Holy Nation, is about making a difference for others in all that we do.