Difference between revisions of "Shabbat Table Topics – Parashat Shemini/0/he"

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<h1>נושאים לשולחן שבת – פרשת שמיני</h1>
 
<h1>נושאים לשולחן שבת – פרשת שמיני</h1>
<category>The Deaths of Nadav and Avihu
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<category>מות נדב ואביהוא
<p>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. See <a href="Why Were Nadav and Avihu Killed" data-aht="page">Why Were Nadav and Avihu Killed</a>.</p><ul>
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<p>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 <a href="Why Were Nadav and Avihu Killed" data-aht="page">למה נהרגו נדב ואביהוא?</a>.</p>
<li>Many<fn>See, for example, <multilink><a href="RYosefBekhorShorVayikra10-1" data-aht="source">R. Yosef Bekhor Shor</a><a href="RYosefBekhorShorVayikra10-1" data-aht="source">Vayikra 10:1</a><a href="R. Yosef Bekhor Shor" data-aht="parshan">About R. Yosef Bekhor Shor</a></multilink> and <multilink><a href="SefornoVayikra10-1" data-aht="source">Seforno</a><a href="SefornoVayikra10-1" data-aht="source">Vayikra 10:1</a><a href="R. Ovadyah Seforno" data-aht="parshan">About R. Ovadyah Seforno</a></multilink>.</fn> suggest that even if the brothers had positive intentions, they were punished for violating proper protocol. <multilink><a href="#" data-aht="source">R. S"R Hirsch</a></multilink>, thus, writes that though Nadav and Avihu desired to get close to Hashem, "in the sacrificial service there is no room for subjectivity... [closeness] will not be achieved except via listening to God". What are the dangers of subjective worship? Why might R. Hirsch, specifically, have been concerned about this?</li>
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<li>According to <multilink><a href="RashbamVayikra10-1-2" data-aht="source">Rashbam</a><a href="RashbamVayikra10-1-2" data-aht="source">Vayikra 10:1-2</a><a href="R. Shemuel b. Meir (Rashbam)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Shemuel b. Meir</a></multilink>'s reading of the story,<fn>This is the general direction of his comments, but he does not state this explicitly.</fn> it is possible that the deaths were not a punishment, but rather a "work accident". According to this, Nadav and Avihu 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?</li>
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<li>הרבה מציעים<fn>ראו לדוגמא <multilink><a href="RYosefBekhorShorVayikra10-1" data-aht="source">ר' יוסף בכור שור</a><a href="RYosefBekhorShorVayikra10-1" data-aht="source">ויקרא י':א'</a><a href="R. Yosef Bekhor Shor" data-aht="parshan">אודות ר' יוסף בכור שור</a></multilink> ו<multilink><a href="SefornoVayikra10-1" data-aht="source">ספורנו</a><a href="SefornoVayikra10-1" data-aht="source">ויקרא י':א'</a><a href="R. Ovadyah Seforno" data-aht="parshan">אודות ר' עובדיה ספורנו</a></multilink>.</fn> that even if the brothers had positive intentions, they were punished for violating proper protocol. <multilink><a href="RSRHirschVayikra10-1" data-aht="source">רש״ר הירש</a><a href="RSRHirschVayikra10-1" data-aht="source">ויקרא י׳:א׳</a><a href="R. Samson Raphael Hirsch" data-aht="parshan">אודות ר' שמשון רפאל הירש</a></multilink>, 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?</li>
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<li>לפי הבנת <multilink><a href="RashbamVayikra10-1-2" data-aht="source">רשב"ם</a><a href="RashbamVayikra10-1-2" data-aht="source">ויקרא י':א'-ב'</a><a href="R. Shemuel b. Meir (Rashbam)" data-aht="parshan">אודות ר' שמואל בן מאיר</a></multilink> בסיפור,<fn>זה הכיוון הכללי של דבריו, למרות שהדבר אינו כל כך מפורש בהם.</fn> it is possible that the deaths were&#160; 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?</li>
 
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<category>You Are What You Eat?
 
<category>You Are What You Eat?
 
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<li>Commentators debate whether the <a href="Purpose of the Laws of Kashrut" data-aht="page">Laws of Kashrut</a> were instituted for their physical or spiritual benefits.&#160;<multilink><a href="RashbamVayikra10-1-2" data-aht="source">Rashbam</a><a href="RashbamVayikra11-3" data-aht="source">Vayikra 11:3</a><a href="R. Shemuel b. Meir (Rashbam)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Shemuel b. Meir</a></multilink> maintains that their purpose is purely utilitarian, and they serve to ensure the health of the nation. <multilink><a href="AkeidatYitzchakVayikraDerush10" data-aht="source">Akeidat Yitzchak </a><a href="AkeidatYitzchakVayikraDerush10" data-aht="source">Vayikra Derush 10</a><a href="R. Yitzchak Arama (Akeidat Yitzchak)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Yitzchak Arama</a></multilink>vehemently disagrees that a commandment would be instituted for such mundane reasons, claiming that all mitzvot must serve to help man perfect his nature. Do you agree?</li>
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<li>המפרשים נחלקו בשאלת האם <a href="Purpose of the Laws of Kashrut" data-aht="page">חוקי כשרות</a> ניתנו בגלל יתרונותיהם החומריות או הרוחניות.&#160;<multilink><a href="RashbamVayikra10-1-2" data-aht="source">רשב"ם</a><a href="RashbamVayikra11-3" data-aht="source">ויקרא י"א:ג'</a><a href="R. Shemuel b. Meir (Rashbam)" data-aht="parshan">אודות ר' שמואל בן מאיר</a></multilink> maintains that their purpose is purely utilitarian, and they serve to ensure the health of the nation. בעל <multilink><a href="AkeidatYitzchakVayikraDerush10" data-aht="source">עקדת יצחק</a><a href="AkeidatYitzchakVayikraDerush10" data-aht="source">ויקרא דרוש י'</a><a href="R. Yitzchak Arama (Akeidat Yitzchak)" data-aht="parshan">אודות ר' יצחק עראמה</a></multilink> מתנגד בחריפות לרעיון that a commandment would be instituted for such mundane reasons, claiming that all mitzvot must serve to help man perfect his nature. Do you agree?</li>
<li><multilink><a href="RambanVayikra11-13" data-aht="source">Ramban</a><a href="RambanVayikra11-13" data-aht="source">Vayikra 11:13</a><a href="R. Moshe b. Nachman (Ramban, Nachmanides)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Moshe b. Nachman</a></multilink> suggests that since what you eat affects who you are, Hashem prohibited predatory animals and birds from consumption, lest man, too, become a beast of prey. Is this convincing?&#160; Does the food one consumes really affect one's character?</li>
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<li><multilink><a href="RambanVayikra11-13" data-aht="source">רמב"ן</a><a href="RambanVayikra11-13" data-aht="source">ויקרא י"א:י"ג</a><a href="R. Moshe b. Nachman (Ramban, Nachmanides)" data-aht="parshan">אודות ר' משה בן נחמן</a></multilink> suggests that since what you eat affects who you are, Hashem prohibited predatory animals and birds from consumption, lest man, too, become a beast of prey. Is this convincing?&#160; Does the food one consumes really affect one's character?</li>
<li><multilink><a href="HaMishtadelVayikra11-1" data-aht="source">Shadal</a><a href="HaMishtadelVayikra11-1" data-aht="source">HaMishtadel Vayikra 11:1</a><a href="R. Shemuel David Luzzatto (Shadal)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Shemuel David Luzzatto</a></multilink>&#160;asserts that another goal of the laws is to distance Israel from other nations. Besides marking the nation as unique, the dietary restrictions limit socialization. Does the Torah advocate for isolationism? If so, is this limited to the religious sphere, or also to cultural and social interactions?&#160; See <a href="Purpose of the Laws of Kashrut" data-aht="page">Purpose of the Laws of Kashrut</a> and <a href="A Nation that Dwells Alone" data-aht="page">A Nation that Dwells Alone</a>.</li>
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<li><multilink><a href="HaMishtadelVayikra11-1" data-aht="source">שד"ל</a><a href="HaMishtadelVayikra11-1" data-aht="source">המשתדל ויקרא י"א:א'</a><a href="R. Shemuel David Luzzatto (Shadal)" data-aht="parshan">אודות ר' שמואל דוד לוצאטו</a></multilink>&#160;asserts that another goal of the laws is to distance Israel from other nations. Besides marking the nation as unique, the dietary restrictions limit socialization. Does the Torah advocate for isolationism? If so, is this limited to the religious sphere, or also to cultural and social interactions?&#160; ראו <a href="Purpose of the Laws of Kashrut" data-aht="page">מטרת חוקי כשרות</a> ו<a href="A Nation that Dwells Alone" data-aht="page">"הן עם לבדד ישכן"</a>.</li>
 
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Version as of 03:27, 22 August 2019

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?

More...

For more, see: Parashat Shemini Topics.