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vaikra through the death of one of His close ones. Moshe did not know whom
Hashem would choose. Would it be him or his brother, Aharon? Moshe
pleaded to be the one to die in order that Bnei Yisrael should not lose an
exceptional role model in Aharon the Kohen.
“Moshe and Aharon were among His priests.” How is it possible that
Aharon was called a Kohen when he had not yet begun to serve as one?
The reason is that since Moshe Rabbeinu sensed that on the eighth day
Hashem would rest His Shechinah upon the Mishkan, he called upon
6 Aharon to sacrifice the offerings before Hashem, in order that it hasten
the descent of the Shechinah. Nevertheless, Moshe feared that Hashem
would seek to sanctify His Name through the one that was sacrificing the
offerings. Therefore, it states “ ,” denoting anguish.
We learn that “there is no man so wholly righteous on earth that he
[always] does good and never sins.” If so, for what reason do tzaddikim
die? It is because of the responsibility of one Jew to another. The sins of
the people are referred to the tzaddikim, and they are condemned to die.
There is a double benefit as a result of their death. The nation is saved
from a harsh decree, and they are also aroused to teshuvah, drawing them
closer to Hashem.
Moshe Rabbeinu knew that Hashem would reveal Himself to His children
only after the sin of the Golden Calf was entirely eliminated. This would
be accomplished through the death of one of His close ones. This death
would shock the people into doing complete teshuvah for the sin of the
Golden Calf, and thereby be worthy of the Shechinah resting among them.
We mention the death of Aharon’s sons on Yom Kippur and plead that
Prior to the sin of the Golden Calf, the Presence of Hashem was constantly Hashem forgive our sins in the merit of these two tzaddikim. Moreover,
evident in the world. For example, after the Splitting of the Sea, a mentioning the death of Aharon’s two sons arouses fear, as it states,
handmaiden saw revelations that were not seen by the Navi Yechezkel ben “Rejoice when there is trembling.” Through experiencing anguish over the
Buzi. Also at Har Sinai, the sounds were seen. At the occasion of the loss, Am Yisrael are aroused to do teshuvah and thus merit Hashem’s
Chanukat Hamishkan it says, “For today Hashem appears to you.” It was overwhelming mercy.
the most elevating experience following the sin of the Golden Calf.
Nadav and Avihu were punished immediately after lighting an alien fire.
This is surprising, since Hashem is Slow to Anger. However, they were
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