And It Speaks Of A LifeThat Passes Like Dew (John Barlow & Bob Weir -"Black Throated Wind")

          Earlier this week, our sixteen year old daughter was given the honour to light a candle during the B’nei Akiva Yom HaZikoron Commemoration Ceremony.  Yom HaZikaron, is otherwise known as Israel’s Remembrance Day or  Memorial Day. Every country sets aside a day to remember its fallen heroes, those who gave their life for their country. In a sense, every country recognizes that it has been touched by death. In Canada, in November there is Remembrance Day, to commemorate those soldiers that died in WWI. In the United States, at the end of May there is Memorial Day, a day set aside to remember those soldiers who died in the Civil War. In November there is Veterans Day, a day set aside to remember those soldiers who died in WWI. Our daughter, along with several other young honorees, lit candles immediately prior to Mincha Service, the Afternoon prayer service,  which is the final of  three daily prayer services. After a few speeches,  Maariv, The Evening service, which is the first of the three daily prayer services began. With the recitation of Maariv a new day commenced. However this was no ordinary transition from one day to the next. Immediately following the solemnity of Yom HaZikaron,  new day began and with it began the celebration of Yom Ha'Atzmaut- Israel’s Independence Day. Of course every country sets a day in which it celebrates its national birth, a day in which a nation appeals to the sanctity and purity associated by birth and the ideals upon which that nation began. Canada celebrates Dominion Day on July 1, and The United States celebrates Independence Day on July 4^th. Usually the "Memorial Day" and "Independence Day" are separated by several months. Only Israel and the Jewish people acknowledge that death and life are intimately bound and usually only separated by the smallest to margins, the blink of an eye, a few minutes, or the separation between Mincha and Maariv.

This Shabbat, like last Shabbat, we read from two Parshiot. This week we read the double Parsha of  Acharei Mot/ Kedoshim. After two Parshiot, Tazria and Metzorah, which essentially interrupted the narrative and the laws that had been focused upon the Kohanim, we now return to the Kohen as the central focus in the Parsha. Now that he has become spiritually pure, the Torah is now ready to teach the laws for the spiritual purity of the nation. We have focused upon the impurities of individuals, now we focus upon the community. The Kohen acts on behalf of the nation just like he acts on behalf of the individual. The Torah teaches us the laws for the offerings of Yom Kippur, national atonement, and Azazel otherwise known as the Scapegoat. The Scapegoat is not offered as a sacrifice to God, but rather is sent out from the camp and left to wander in the wilderness eventually succumbing to the elements. The second half of the Parsha focuses upon the holy and holy relationships within the family. However the list of inappropriate behaviors between family members is taught within the context of the other nations. The list of inappropriate behavior in terms of worship, in terms of caring for the employer and employee, between the vulnerable and the well-off, between people are all taught within the context of other nations. Essentially other nations provide a standard of inappropriate behavior.

However it is somewhat odd that the standards for inappropriate behavior come from two distinct places. One place is Egypt; the place where this journey began. The other place is Eretz Canaan; the place where this journey is supposed to conclude. The Torah considers both places impure, and unholy. Both places engage in behavior that Torah considers to be bad,  in fact the Torah refers to this "bad behaviour" as "abominations". In both places, Egypt and Canaan, the dominant culture worships death, and does not sanctify life. Human sacrifices are made, the vulnerable are not taken care of, and there is no mechanism in place for a community to ever return to a previous point of spiritual purity and sanctity – T’Shuvah (repentance).  In fact both places, the place of origin and place of destination are so impure, the abominations are so deplorable, that to mimic such behavior is tantamount to a spiritual death. The only example, the only other third party "being" to mimic and to imitate behavior is God. Vi’Heyitem Li Kedoshim Ki Kadosh Ani Adoshem Va’Avdil Etchem Min Ha’Amim Li’heyot Li – You shall be holy for me for I, Hashem, am holy; and I have separated you from the People’s to be mine.(Lev. 20:26). Holiness is the act of sanctifying life. Even if touched by death, as Aharon had been touched by the death of his sons, a person can sanctify life or wallow in the misery and sadness and allow his/.her own spirit to die.

The idea that in one evening separated by a few minutes, Jewish communities in Israel and outside of Israel, Jewish communities that were celebrating Yom Hazikaron (Israel’s Memorial Day) and Yom Ha’Atzmaut (Israel’s Independence Day) were ultimately sanctify life. Yes the memory of those who died in Israel’s’ war and were victims of terrorism were remembered, however those memories had a distinct purpose. Those memories helped Israel and all who celebrate with Israel to celebrate its life, its birth, and the pure ideals upon which it was established, a Jewish State built upon democracy. Watching our daughter light that commemorative candle, I couldn't help but think about the fragility of life, and  the limited time we have to lead a purpose driven life. As our daughter lit that candle commemorating death, I couldn't help but think that the only way to make any death meaningful is to celebrate life. Watching our daughter light that candle commemorating death, my wife and I couldn’t help but acknowledge and anticipate the celebration of the miracle that is State of Israel.

Peace,

Rav Yitz