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SHMINI

The great seven day ceremony of the dedication of the Mishkan has passed. Now, on the eighth day, the actual service and public purpose and use of the Mishkan is to begin. But this day will be marred by the tragedy of the deaths of Nadav and Avihu, the two sons of Aharon.

The eighth day represents the difficulties of life that always follow great and exalting moments and events. The Psalmist asks “Who can climb the mountain of God?” That itself is a difficult task. But then David raises an even more difficult task: “And who can maintain their place on his holy place?”

After the triumph and euphoria of climbing the mountain, of dedicating the Mishkan, of the marriage ceremony and of the birth date of the child, then the real work of maintaining that exalted feeling begins. It is not coincidental that the circumcision day of a Jewish boy is on the eighth day of his life. The eighth day represents the beginning of the struggles and difficulties, even of the tragedies as we see in this week’s parsha. This is what life has in store for every human being.

Those of us who remember the great days in our Jewish national lives – 1948 and the declaration of the state and 1967, the reunification of Jerusalem – know how difficult it is to retain that optimism and faith after long decades of strife, turmoil, disappointment, mistakes and enmity. Yet the key to our survival and success lies in our ability to somehow do so. It is the eighth day that is the true test of human and Jewish mettle. 

The Torah also informs us in this week’s parsha that God, so to speak, prefers to use holy and faithful people as examples to others of the problems caused by improper behavior. Aharon’s sons are seen, in Jewish tradition, as being righteous, dedicated people. Yet it is their deviation, no matter how well intentioned and innovative as it was, from what they had been commanded to do that led to their tragic demise.

The rituals and traditions are not to be tinkered with according to personal ideas, wishes and whims. And, if this is true, as it is for every individual Jew no matter his or her position in life, how much more so is it true for people who are priests in the Temple/Mishkan, leaders of religion and purported role models to the young and the general community at large.

The closer one gets, so to speak, to spirituality and Torah greatness, the greater the responsibility for discipline and probity in obedience to the Torah’s commandments and values. Deviations and mistakes at that exalted stage of achievement can, as we see in this week’s parsha, prove to be lethal.

The rabbis warned wise men, scholars and leaders about speech that is not carefully thought out or actions that are impulsive. The effect upon others can be devastating and negative. The countermeasure of God, so to speak, to prevent this is frightening as the parsha teaches us. We should always be mindful of the eighth day, as reflected in the daily incidents that make up our lives.