Shabbat Table Topics – Parashat Shemini/0/he

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נושאים לשולחן שבת – פרשת שמיני

מות נדב ואביהוא

After describing the eighth day of the consecration of the Mishkan, Parashat Shemini records the tragic deaths of Nadav and Avihu, who were consumed by heavenly fire while offering incense. Commentators struggle to understand what was so terrible about their deed that it warranted such a severe punishment. ראו למה נהרגו נדב ואביהוא?.

  • הרבה מציעים1 that even if the brothers had positive intentions, they were punished for violating proper protocol. רש״ר הירשויקרא י׳:א׳אודות ר' שמשון רפאל הירש, thus, writes that though Nadav and Avihu desired to get close to Hashem, "בעבודת הקרבנות אין מקום לשרירותיות סובייקטיבית... ניתן להשיג [קרבת א-לוהים] רק על ידי שמיעה בקול ה׳ וקבלת עול מצוותיו". What are the dangers of subjective worship? Why might R. Hirsch, specifically, have been concerned about this?
  • לפי הבנת רשב"םויקרא י':א'-ב'אודות ר' שמואל בן מאיר בסיפור,2 it is possible that the deaths were  not a punishment, but rather a "תאונת עבודה". לפי זה, נדב ואביהוא were in the wrong place at the wrong time and suffered the natural consequences. Are there "chance accidents", or must everything that occurs in the world be directly attributed to God and viewed in terms of reward and punishment?

You Are What You Eat?

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For more, see: Parashat Shemini Topics.