Parshi’ot Acharay Mot/ Kiddoshim
CARLSBAD, California — This week we read a double portion, Acharay Mot / Kiddoshim, which translates as After (the) Death / Be Holy. The first of the two portions picks up the narrative which was discussed two weeks ago in the portion of Shmini – The Eighth (Day).
By way of a brief synopsis we read how the Tabernacle was formally inaugurated on the eighth day after being set up and taken down by Moses and the service practiced within it for a full week. On the eighth day Aaron the High Priest took over the duties and miraculously the Divine Presence inhabited the structure, demonstrating that the Jewish people had achieved success in reconnecting with G-d after the sin of the Golden Calf. Tragically, however, Aaron’s two eldest sons, Nadav and Avihu, brought on unsanctioned Incense Offering into the Holy of Holies and died on the spot. Some commentaries explain that they actually chose death, in that the rapturous love they felt for the Almighty caused them to embrace spirituality by completely abandoning the physical world.
Then, mysteriously, the Torah seems to change the subject completely and discuss the laws of Tzara’at and ritual impurity before again mentioning the tragic deaths of Aaron’s sons. And from the subject of death the Torah then goes on to list a dizzying array of Mitzvot, which are all included in the portion that openly calls for the Jewish people to emulate G-d’s defining characteristic of being holy. Just as He is holy, so too are we to be holy by fulfilling all of these commandments.
The Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson of righteous memory, explains the positioning is no accident and that there are profound lessons to be learned. We have previously mentioned that Nadav and Avihu made a mistake. As holy as they were and as much as they thirsted for the divine, they missed the point. The Midrash tells us that G-d created the world in order that He should have a dwelling place below in this world. G-d specifically wanted His Presence revealed here, in the mundane physical world, and that is the purpose of creation.
The previous two portions as well as our two portions of this week emphasize again and again that we are to turn our energies into being involved in the physical world. And that by so doing, we are revealing the purpose of all of creation. We are actually empowered by the Almighty to serve as His partner, so to speak. He gave us this opportunity because of His love of us and His kind and generous nature. G-d’s ultimate purpose is that we should likewise treat each other and the world around us with abundant lovingkindness and generosity. We do so to serve Him; not for our own pleasure or benefit, not even for spiritual benefits, but we want to give our Father in Heaven nachas – enjoyment.
Let us embrace with joy and vitality the awesome role that G-d has created for us. Let us be holy by paying our workers on time, by helping even our enemies when they are lost, by having fair weights and measures, and by making sure we attribute all of our blessings to their true Source.
Wishing everyone an uplifting, joyous, and HEALTHY Shabbos!
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Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort is Director of Coastal Chabads and Chabad at La Costa. Rabbi Eilfort welcomes readers’ comments and questions and may be reached at RabbiE@ChabadatLaCosta.com.