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Shooting High Practical Advice to Save Oneself From Punishment From Above By Rabbi Daniel Yaakov Travis Based on a shiur given by Rav Moshe Shternbuch, Rosh Av Beis Din of the Eidah Hachareidis of Yerushalayim, leil Shabbos Parshas Shemini, in Beis Knesses HaGra in Har Nof. CLOSE AT A DISTANCE “…Now I see that they [Nadav and Avihu] are greater than us” (Rashi, Vayikrah 10:3). Despite their greatness, in the middle of the simcha of the inauguration of the

accomplishments came as a result of the simcha he had in his Divine service. Drinking wine brings a person to greater levels of simcha. As Dovid Hamelech said, “Wine gladdens the heart of man” (Tehillim 104). Nadav and Avihu wanted to reach the highest spiritual levels and thought to infuse their service in the Bais Hamikdosh with more joy by drinking a small amount of wine beforehand. The Torah obligates one to be 100% levelheaded during the avodah and prohibits drinking wine. Nadav’s and Avihu’s drive for greatness

Remembrance By Shalom C. Augenbaum Just a thought, an idea, a notion if you will, That entered my mind during Yom Tov and which lingers still. It occurred, you see, on Pesach’s last day, As I was sitting in shul and heard the rabbi say: “Yizkor.” A time to reflect and recall those people no longer here, Parents, in-laws, siblings, and all those we hold dear. Exiting the shul, my mind blank as can be, After all, Yizkor has nothing to do with me. Suddenly, it struck me, as I realized with a start,

At the Shabbos Table with Rabbi Juravel

Rav Moshe Shternbuch

Mishkan, Nadav and Avihu were killed immediately for their transgressions on that very same day. How can we understand this? Aveiros distance us from Hashem. Yet, when describing the transgression of Nadav and Avihu, the Torah writes that they were sanctified when they came close to Hashem and died. Why does the Torah mention coming close to Hashem together with their transgression? Both Nadav and Avihu were extremely righteous. However, by offering ketores in the inner chambers of the Mishkan, they attempted to perform an avodah reserved for the Kohen Gadol on Yom Hakippurim. In doing so, they were shooting too high, and attempting to achieve a level that was beyond their grasp. Although their intention was to come even closer to Hashem, in the midst of their fervor they erred. Nadav and Avihu were not Kohanim Gedolim, and for them, offering ketores in the innermost sanctuary was a transgression. As a result, they came too close to Hashem and were punished with immediate death. PRAYING WITH JOY According to another understanding, Nadav and Avihu performed the avodah while they were intoxicated. Again we must ask, this is a clear violation of a Torah prohibition. What motivated them to do this? Serving Hashem with joy helps elevate a person to the highest levels. The Arizal said about himself that all of his

WHEN WILL THEY DIE? The Medrash relates that Nadav and Avihu said, “When will Moshe and Aharon die so that we can be the leaders of Klal Yisroel?” At surface level, we cannot fathom how they could make such a crass statement. Even the lowest individual would not say such a thing, certainly not such tzaddikim. Moshe and Aharon reached the height of spiritual greatness. However, as leaders of Klal Yisroel, they had to help others solve their everyday issues. This obligated them to come down to the level of the people in order to deal with their problems. Nadav and Avihu did not desire the death of Moshe and Aharon. They wanted the Jewish people to elevate themselves to a level where the leaders would not have to lower themselves to deal with their issues. Their statement was another expression of the conflict between their desire for greatness and the limitations that life places upon us. JUST PUNISHMENT On the eighth day of the celebration of the Mishkan, the simcha reached its height. The death of Nadav and Avihu affected everyone and plunged the simcha

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Because I too must remember to be thankful and aware, Of all those people I take for granted, whom I think will be here year after year. So, while spending Pesach at Bubby and Zaidy with kinderlach was no easy feat, It was crowded, they were kvetchy, and they never wanted to eat. Yizkor reminds me to appreciate that this is something which I can still do, Some people would give anything to have a Bubby and Zaidy to take their children to. I now understand that Yizkor is not only about remembering the past, It is about appreciating the present while it still lasts.

Good Hair Date

(Continued on Page 57) will contract cholera. I made good on my promise. Can you do the same?” Upon hearing this, Rav Chalfin removed his shoes and sat down on the ground. The rule is that one must debase himself when he gets a nezifah from a gadol. Rav Chalfin didn’t fear what Rav Yisroel would do. Rather, he debased himself because he felt embarrassed by what he had said to Rav Yisroel. Likewise, when we get a punishment from Hashem and we change our ways, we remove the punishment, but there still remains the embarrassment of Hashem giving us a “potch.” We find this idea in Parshas Beha’aloscha when Hashem said that Miriam should be embarrassed of her tzoraas as if her father had spit in her face. Rabbeinu Yonah says that part of teshuvah is feeling embarrassed before Hashem for having done an aveirah. If we feel this busha and the need to get back into Hashem’s goodwill, perhaps our teshuvah will be more pleasing to Hashem.

(Continued from Page 57) As Pesach c ame to an end this week, I mentioned to someone that finding one’s shidduch is a geulah very similar to geulas Mitzrayim. Just as with the Jewish nation in Mitzrayim, the geulah did not come a second earlier or later, but at the exact moment Hashem saw fit, so too with shidduchim. I told a single young lady celebrating her birthday, thinking about the fact that she was a year older, “Not a second before, but not a second later.” This is the way geulah comes - at the exact moment Hashem knows is perfect for you. It is, of course, easy to say but immeasurably more difficult to live. Nevertheless, we work and strive to internalize the words and message of the kohen’s wife. Hashem indeed recognizes and cares for each hair; He knows each one of our zip codes, and He can bring us our shidduch, even from China. ••••• Rabbi Posnick and his wife are shadchanim who work to assist those in the parsha. They can be reached via email at [email protected].

into aveilus. Aharon Hakohen took the hardest blow, since it was the death of his children. While human justice is generally only able to consider those who are receiving punishment, Hashem’s ways are completely righteous, and He takes into account how everyone will be affected before meting out judgment. Somebody may deserve to be punished, but if his family or those surrounding him will suffer, the Almighty will not punish him even though he is deserving of it. If Nadav and Avihu sinned, why did Aharon deserve such a harsh punishment? In truth, Aharon also transgressed with his involvement in the creation of the Eigel Hazohov, but Hashem did not punish him for this right away. When his children transgressed and had to be killed, Hashem carried this out, simultaneously punishing

Aharon and his children. Had Ahron not sinned, his children would not have been punished since he would also suffer. Aharon’s involvement with Klal Yisroel was a shield to protect him, and were it not for his part in the chet haEigel, Aharon would have not been punished. From here we can draw a fundamental principle: The more we help the klal, the more likely we are to be spared from any harm. Everyone should try and help Klal Yisroel to the best of his ability, and in the merit of his actions he might be spared from pain or even death. ••••• Rabbi Travis is a rosh kollel of Kollel Toras Chaim in Yerushalayim, and is the author of Shaylos U’Teshuvos Toras Chaim and “Praying With Joy - A Daily Tefilla Companion,” a practical daily guide to improving one’s prayers, available from Feldheim Publishers.

YATED NE’EMAN

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led to their downfall. While a person should try to elevate himself spiritually, he must do so slowly and carefully. Whoever tries to come too close too quickly will surely fall. Each step must be thought out carefully, so that one’s passion should not lead one to transgression.

How wrong I was and how much of Yizkor I am a part.

30 Nissan 5769 • April 24 2009

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