Page 145 - VAIKRA
P. 145

5
  vaikra







                                                                                                                      The Torah begins the account with the word  , which denotes anguish.                       #                                                               26347-EYAL-6BOOKS - 26347-Vaikra-EYAL | 5 - A | 18-08-19 | 15:24:54 | SR:-- | Black   26347-EYAL-6BOOKS - 2
                                                                                                                      Moshe felt anguish upon observing the restriction of the Shechinah to the
                                                                                                                      relatively small confines of the Mishkan. This was not the case upon the
                                                                                                                      Creation of the world, when Hashem’s glorious Presence was obvious
                                                                                                                      throughout the world.

                                                                                                                      Moshe Rabbeinu, who personifies the sefirah of netzach (eternity), was
                                                                                                                      selected to help bring the Shechinah, which is eternal, down to earth.
                                                                                                                      On the other hand, Aharon, who personifies the sefirah of hod (glory),
                                                                                                                      which is the eighth sefirah, was chosen to serve as the Kohen Gadol
                                                                                                                      on the eighth day. Through their combined merit, they would succeed
                                                                                                                      in causing the Shechinah,which is hod v’hadar (splendid glory), to
                                                                                                                      descend.

                                                                                                                      Moshe Rabbeinu also called the sons of Aharon to approach the Mishkan
                                                                                                                      because he knew that Hashem intended to be sanctified through one of his
                                                                                                                      close ones, but he did not know through whom. Therefore, he calculated
                                                                                                                      that if Aharon would be taken to Heaven, his sons would immediately
                                                                                                                      continue his service.

                                                                                                                      The Torah relates that Nadav and Avihu ate and drank while gazing at the
                                                                                                                      Shechinah. Commentaries explain that they were on such a lofty level that
                                                                                                                      they were able to transform physical acts into spirituality. Therefore, they
                                                                                                                      were capable of gazing at the Shechinah while eating. Since Nadav and
                                                                                                                      Avihu lived their lives according to the dictum “I see [the judgment of]
                                                                                                                      God from my flesh,” they could not fathom joining a wife in marriage.
                                                                                                                      Aharon and Moshe did not admonish them, because they knew that their
                                                                                                                      intentions were for the sake of Heaven. However, Hashem considered this
                                                                                                                      a fault, since they could have sanctified marriage just as they sanctified
                                                                                                                      eating and drinking.

                                                                                                                      There are commentaries who explain that Moshe did not admonish
                                                                                                                      Aharon’s sons because he considered them greater than himself. He
                                                                                                                      calculated that if Hashem instructed him to divorce his wife in order to
                                                                                                                      lead the nation, all the more so should the sons of Aharon be instructed
                                                                                                                      to abstain from marriage in order to devote themselves entirely to the
   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147   148   149   150