Moses warns his brother about entering the Mishkan at will. Because the Anan, the surrounding ‘cloud’ created a ‘fifth dimension’ – Sovev, to occupy the Mishkan preventing entry, except when Divine permission was granted.
Many a climber of Everest has spent enormous energy training for the challenge, but is it just for a momentary ‘high’ of conquering the peak? It’s their descent and excitement that uplifts others through their achievement. That is what Nadav and Avihu should have done rather than seek a transcendental ‘high’ but refuse to descend…
The term ‘scape-goat’ is used to describe the assignment of social or economic ills onto a conveniently visible but innocent minority group – thereby avoiding responsibility. But its origins arise in this week’s sedra and actually provide a very important psychological teaching on the importance of ridding ourselves of unnecessary weight of guilt, so that…
Abstinence is not some old-fashioned act of self-flagellation. In Judaism, e.g. Yom Kippur, fasting becomes an opportunity for a spiritual cleanse – a spiritual detox. Sometimes doing without, means doing within.
After death of Aaron’s sons, the text suggests they acted improperly, even intoxicated while in the holy of holies
