Originally published 5779

In the aftermath of the tragic deaths of Nadav and Avihu, God appeared to Aharon, the bereaved father, and instructed him:

And the Lord spoke to Aharon saying, ‘Do not drink wine that will lead to intoxication, neither you nor your sons with you, when you go into the Tent of Meeting, so that you shall not die. [This is] an eternal statute for your generations’ (Vayikra 10:8-9).” 

The Kohanim (priests) may not drink wine either before or when performing the Temple service. On a most basic level, this was to ensure the sanctity and appropriateness of Kohanic behavior. In addition, the Kohanim were often consulted on matters of Jewish law and therefore, had to possess the clarity of mind to rule on complex issues. But why was Aharon given these instructions now? This could have been communicated at the beginning of the Mishkan’s inauguration. Yet, God chose to communicate this to Aharon in the aftermath of the loss of his sons. Why?

The commentaries offer many different approaches. I would like to share with you an incredible insight by the Ben Ish Chai (Chacham Yosef Chaim, Chief Rabbi of Baghdad, 1835-1909).

“… For the Temple and wine are two opposites. The Temple itself has the ability to fill the heart of a person with incredible joy … however, wine was created to comfort mourners or those who have suffered misfortune, as the verse states, ‘give wine to the embittered soul.’ Therefore, when one comes to the Temple which is the source of all joy, why would he need to drink wine?” 

Wine was created to dull pain, to take the edge off difficult situations (when used in moderation). The Talmud explains that upon returning from burying a loved one, mourners were given a “cup of consolation,” a large glass of wine. God created something that can help remove some of the searing pain of life’s challenges. But this is not true joy; this is a masking or a dulling of the pain. At times, this is necessary as I am not yet ready to confront and tackle my broken heart. True joy comes from the Temple. True joy comes from connection with God. Happiness comes from within. The Kohen cannot drink wine when he comes to the Temple, because God wants the Kohen’s joy to come from his service and connection and not from an intoxicating beverage. God wants the Kohen to experience true and complete joy and not a contrived state of happiness resulting from masking life challenges. God wants the Kohen to feel simcha, not simply the absence of tzaar (pain).

God was speaking to a bereaved father. Aharon’s world had imploded as he had just experienced the loss of his beloved sons. God tells Aharon, “I know that life will never be the same for you. I know that although you have accepted My will and decree, your heart is shattered in a million pieces. But you can find a way to reclaim some measure of happiness through a life of sacred service and connection to the Divine. Don’t seek out happiness through dulling your pain. Find joy in a life of meaningful, dynamic service.”

Wine has its place. There is no Jewish life-cycle event which doesn’t include wine. We just demonstrated our freedom by drinking 4 cups of wine at the Seder. Wine can help you feel happy – but it can’t make you happy. True happiness comes from within. True happiness is the result of living a meaningful life filled with connection to God and the Jewish people. Real simcha is the result of knowing that I am making a difference, and my life is purposeful. Genuine joy comes from knowing that I am striving to become the best version of me. The wine can help at times, but true joy can only be found in the Temple.

In the aftermath of the tragic deaths of Nadav and Avihu, God appeared to Aharon, the bereaved father and instructed him:

“And the Lord spoke to Aharon saying, ‘Do not drink wine that will lead to intoxication, neither you nor your sons with you, when you go into the Tent of Meeting, so that you shall not die. [This is] an eternal statute for your generations.’” (Vayikra 10:8-9)

The Kohanim (priests) may not drink wine either before or when performing the Temple service. On a most basic level this was to ensure the sanctity and appropriateness of Kohanic behavior. In addition, the Kohanim were often consulted on matters of Jewish law and therefore, had to possess the clarity of mind to rule on complex issues. But why was Aharon given these instructions now? This could have been communicated at the beginning of the Mishkan’s inauguration. Yet, God chose to communicate this to Aharon in the aftermath of the loss of his sons. Why?

The commentaries offer many different approaches. I would like to share with you an incredible insight by the Ben Ish Chai (Chacham Yosef Chaim, Chief Rabbi of Baghdad, 1835-1909).

“… For the Temple and wine are two opposites. The Temple itself has the ability to fill the heart of a person with incredible joy … however, wine was created to comfort mourners or those who have suffered misfortune, as the verse states, ‘give wine to the embittered soul.’ Therefore, when one comes to the Temple which is the source of all joy, why would he need to drink wine?”

Wine was created to dull pain, to take the edge off difficult situations (when used in moderation). The Talmud explains that upon returning from burying a loved one, mourners were given a “cup of consolation,” a large glass of wine. God created something that can help remove some of the searing pain of life’s challenges. But this is not true joy. This is a masking or a dulling of the pain. At times, this is necessary as one is not yet ready to confront and tackle his broken heart. True joy comes from the Temple. True joy comes from connection with God. Happiness comes from within. The Kohen cannot drink wine when he comes to the Temple, because God wants the Kohen’s joy to come from his service and connection and not from an intoxicating beverage. God wants the Kohen to experience true and complete joy and not a contrived state of happiness resulting from masking life challenges. God wants the Kohen to feel simcha, not simply the absence of tzaar (pain).

God was speaking to a bereaved father. Aharon’s world had imploded as he had just experienced the loss of his beloved sons. God tells Aharon, “I know that life will never be the same for you. I know that although you have accepted My will and decree, your heart is shattered in a million pieces. But you can find a way to reclaim some measure of happiness through a life of sacred service and connection to the Divine. Don’t seek out happiness through dulling your pain, find joy in a life of meaningful, dynamic service.”

Wine has its place. There is no Jewish life-cycle event which doesn’t include wine. In just a few weeks we will demonstrate our freedom by drinking 4 cups of wine at the Seder. Wine can help you feel happy – but it can’t make you happy. True happiness comes from within. True happiness is the result of living a meaningful life filled with connection to God and the Jewish people. Real simcha is the result of knowing that we are each making a difference and our livesare purposeful. Genuine joy comes from knowing that we are striving to become the best version of ourselves.  The wine can help at times, but true joy can only be found in the Temple.

– Dedicated in loving memory of Sholom Elazar z’l ben Rav Elimelech Bentzion

And Aaron’s sons, Nadab and Abihu, each took his pan, put fire in them, and placed incense upon it, and they brought before the Lord foreign fire, which He had not commanded them. And fire went forth from before the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord. Then Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the Lord spoke, [when He said], ‘I will be sanctified through those near to Me, and before all the people I will be glorified.’ And Aaron was silent (Vayikra 10:1-3).”

It was to be a day of rejuvenation and reconciliation.  The dedication of the Mishkan (Tabernacle) symbolized the return of the Divine Presence to the camp of the Jewish nation (after the separation caused by the sin of the Golden Calf).  But alas, it was not to be.  The death of Aharon’s two sons transformed this day of joy into a day of pain, grief and loss.  But was their sin?  What was the nature of their “foreign fire?”

The commentaries provide many different interpretations and insights.  The Talmud (Eruvin 63a) explains that Nadav and Avihu decided on matters of Jewish law in the presence of their teachers, Moshe and Aharon.  This fundamental lack of respect and breakdown of authority led to their deaths.  Others explain they were inebriated when serving in the Mishkan.  The Midrash writes that Nadav and Avihu ventured into the Kodesh HaKodashim, the Holy of Holies and were punished as a result.  Other rabbinic commentaries explain that they took fire from outside the confines of the Temple to offer the incense instead of taking from the Divine fire that descended from the Heavens.

Perhaps, there is another insight into their sin which can be gleaned from the Haggadah.  In the beginning of the Seder we recite Ha Lachma Anya, this is the bread of affliction.

This is the bread of affliction that our fathers ate in the land of Egypt. Let all who are hungry, come and eat. Let all who are needy, come and celebrate Passover (partake of the Paschal lamb). This year we are here – next year, may we be in the Land of Israel. This year we are slaves – next year, may we be free.

Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau (former Chief Rabbi of the State of Israel, current Chief Rabbi of Tel Aviv) provides a beautiful insight into this paragraph by sharing a moving story.  During his tenure as Chief Rabbi, Rabbi Lau was conducting a communal Seder on an air force base.  There were over 1,000 people in attendance from all walks of life.  Rabbi Lau began the Seder with reading and translating Ha Lachma Anya.  As he concluded, a young pilot stood up and said, “Rabbi, I feel these words, this text – has lost its meaning.  Why should we say this year we are here, next year may we be in the Land of Israel?  I was born here, I am a sabra.  Why would I say, this year we are slaves, next year may we be free?  I was born free and I have always been free? 

Rabbi Lau provided a dramatic and beautiful answer:  “In my youth I had the privilege to study under many great teachers. Great men like, Rav Elazar Man Shach, Rabbi Eliyahu Lopian, Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach and I was privileged to spend Yom Kippur with each of them.  I stood next to these great men as they recited the Al Cheyts (list of sins for which we repent on Yom Kippur); I heard their muffled cries and saw the tears stream down their face. I often wondered – did these great rabbis commit these heinous acts which they were confessing?  It couldn’t be.  Even “regular” people don’t commit half of the sins outlined in the list.  Why would these great rabbis confess sins they had not committed?  Truthfully, the Baal Shem Tov also beat his chest while confessing this list, the Vilna Gaon cried out when enumerating these sins.  Surely, these giants of our past had not committed these transgressions!  And then it dawned on me.  These great rabbis were not confessing their sins – they were confessing and seeking forgiveness for sins of the nation.  These great men realized that although they had not committed these aggrieved acts – there were Jews who did.  Perhaps, those Jews would not or could not confess and repent.  These holy rabbis decided that we will do teshuva (repentance) on their behalf.  We will cry their tears, we will utter their apologies, we will beg for their forgiveness.  I realized that the true mark of greatness is the ability to think beyond one’s self and to connect to the plight, circumstances and reality of the other.”

Rabbi Lau then turned to the young pilot and said: “You are truly privileged to be here and free.  But what about all your brothers and sisters who are not?  What about your fellow Jews who are suffering and enduring persecution?  What about those who are not able to celebrate Pesach either because they don’t have or they don’t know?  You may be here – but they are not.  You may be free – but they are not.  Let us be their mouthpiece.  Let us utter these words on their behalf.  Let us ask Hashem on this sacred night to bring all of those who are there – here.  Let us supplicate before God and beg Him to allow all of those who are slaves to taste the sweetness of freedom.”

Perhaps, this was the mistake of Nadav and Avihu.  If one looks closely at the verse – it says, V’Yikchu Bnei Aharon, Nadav V’Avihu Ish Machtaso, And Aaron’s sons, Nadab and Abihu, each took his pan.  The Torah goes out of its way to state “Ish, each man” and “Machtaso, his pan” (possessive); identifying Nadav and Avihu as individuals.  The job of the Kohen is to represent the nation; the mandate of the Kohen is to be the embodiment of the collective.  Perhaps, the mistake of Nadav and Avihu was that they acted as individuals.  What they did was to satisfy their own needs and wants.  They served God the way they deemed fit without regard for the needs of the collective.  They were not acting as the emissaries of the Jewish people – they were each an Ish, an individual.  When we stop thinking about the collective and only think about ourselves –we end up making terrible mistakes.

This Shabbos we will IYH announce the arrival of month of Iyar.  We have begun the Sefira count towards the Yom Tov of Shavuos.  It is during this time of year that we focus on our personal growth the development.  We ready and prepare ourselves to reexperience the upcoming Sinaitic revelation.  Proper preparation cannot be limited to a focus on the self.  Holy preparation requires a recognition that we are we are part of a greater collective called, Am Yisroel.  On Pesach we became a nation and it is during these days that we must focus on how to be a nation.   Being part of Am Yisroel means feeling a sense of responsibility for the other.  It means recognizing that even if everything is ok in my life – there are others who are struggling and hurting and it is my responsibility to find some way to help.  It is easy to become spiritually self-centered, but we know that true growth and spiritual self-actualization comes about when you carry the entire nation of Israel in your heart and in your soul.