Several Wednesday
evenings ago, my wife and I sat down to watch a medical drama that she enjoys.
No sooner had we sat down when our 12 year old came downstairs and joined us.
No she wasn’t invited, and normally she becomes uncomfortable with blood and
controversial issues. However, on this night, one of the story lines did not
involve any blood. So she watched and she asked questions, lots of questions. On
this particular episode, a former medical student diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s
disease has checked into the hospital. In the room with him were his parents,
his siblings and his closest friends. There was a “good bye” party going on
when a doctor and former classmate of the patient walked in and began quieting
everybody down. Having looked at the case log, the doctor told her patient and
former classmate that there were several very aggressive treatments that would
give her friend a little more time. The patient explained that he did not want
any such treatment but rather had decided to donate all his organs when his
heart stopped beating. No drastic measures were to taken. Instead the healthy
organs should be harvested as quickly as possible and donated to those in need.
The doctor wouldn’t hear of such a thing and began to argue. The patient looked
at his friend the doctor and fired her from his case. Later on as the patient’s
mother began having second thoughts about her son’s noble and selfless
decision, the doctor came in and started telling the family where each of the
son’s organs would be donated. Their son organs would save dozens of
lives. It was a very powerful moment. It
became clear that the while there was nothing noble about the humiliation
endured as Lou Gehrig's disease slowly saps one of bodily functions, there was
something noble in the way that the patient would die. He would die with
dignity, and in death he would re-affirm human life. By the end, she realized that more holy than
life was the idea of the “quality” of life. I explained that what made the
character in the TV show so powerful was the fact that he less afraid of death
than he more afraid of missing out on the opportunity to bring goodness to the
world.
This
morning we read from Parsha Shemini. The Parsha is comprised of chapters 9,10,
and 11 of Sefer Vayikra. In the first chapter of the Parsha, Aaron has now been
separated from the camp, and the people for 7 days. He has now become spiritually
pure to make offering on behalf of the people to God. He now makes the first
public offering on behalf of the people and God accepts it. The second chapter
is a narrative that tells us about Aaron’s two eldest sons, Nadav and Avihu.
They want to approach god like their father did, however they are not
spiritually ready. They offer “strange fire”, and are immediately killed. Moshe instructs Aaron and his two surviving
sons about the appropriate behavior that is necessary when making offerings on
behalf of the people. The third chapter of the Parsha discusses all the animals
that are permitted and prohibited under the laws of Kashrut.
Upon the death of Nadav and Avihu, Moshe has to tell his
brother Aaron of his son’s death. Vayomer Moshe El Aharon Hu Asher Diber
Adoshem Leimor Bikrovai Ekadesh V’Al P’nei Chol Ha’Am Ekaveid – Moshe said to Aaron: “Of this did God speak,
I will be sanctified through those who are closest to me, thus I will be
honored by this entire people.” (Lev. 10:3) In as touching and humane a
manner as one will ever read, Moshe tells Aaron that his sons have gone to God.
While he doesn’t say what they did to deserve being close to God, Moshe
suggests a vital theological point in Judaism.
Nadav and Avihu, Aaron’s sons, were eventually destined to become the
Kohen Gadol – the High Priest. These young men occupy an important place within
society. While we live in a society where we tend to grant important and
influential people a looser standard, in Judaism we hold the powerful and respected
leaders to a higher standard. God deals stricter with the lapses of the
powerful and respected much more so than the common person. In this manner,
Moshe tells Aaron the news that his son’s are indeed held to a higher standard
and the result is that they can sanctify God in death. While these words may
not seem particularly comforting to us, Aaron, the father of the deceased,
responds to these deaths in a manner that perhaps seems incredibly foreign to
us. Upon hearing the news of his eldest sons’ deaths we learn: Vayidom Aharon – and Aaron was silent (Lev. 10:3). He didn’t
cry out, he didn’t protest, but rather remained silent. He accepted Moshe’s
words and God’s actions. Then he proceeded to listen to Moshe speak to his
remaining two sons as to the appropriate manner in which he and his sons, given
their stature and role within the community, must behave. Indeed, they are held
to a higher standard.
We are a nation of priests. We are also held to a
different and perhaps a higher standard.
Aaron’s response was one of acceptance and dignity. To respond in this
manner requires tremendous strength and faith. We face numerous opportunities
in which we demonstrate our faith. We have a lifetime to achieve the strength
of dignity to accept what God gives us in life. On this Shabbat, the Shabbat
immediately following the Pesach holiday, let us remember how far we have come
as former slaves. We are now held to a higher standard of behavior, a standard
of Torah, a standard in which we can add holiness to our lives here in life,
and not wait until death. So let us have the courage and the strength to add
holiness to our lives, just as the medical student doctor chose to do.
Peace,
Rav Yitz
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