5783/2023
In this week’s Parashah, Bnei Yisrael finally completes the
inauguration of the Mishkan and there is a tremendous
celebration. However, amidst the great Simcha of erecting the
Mishkan, Nadav and Avihu tragically pass away after bringing
an “זרה אש” ”Alien fire” before Hashem. Mefarshim discuss what
happened and why Nadav and Avihu were killed for their sin.
The Kli Yakar quotes seven seemingly independent reasons as
to why Aharon’s sons deserved to die:
1. They entered the Mishkan after drinking wine.
2. They entered the Mishkan without washing their
hands and feet with the Kior.
3. They went into the Mishkan lacking one of the Priestly
Garments.
4. They taught a Halachah in the presence of Moshe who
was their teacher.
5. They were eager for Moshe and Aharon to die so they
could take over.
6. They entered the Mishkan when they were not asked
to.
7. They did not want to get married and have children.
Although these answers appear to have nothing in common, I
would like to suggest that they are all rooted in the same Issur.
The big mistake Nadav and Avihu made was that although they
were great people and recognized this, they felt satisfied with
who they were and had no desire to grow. In their eyes, they
were so righteous that there was no point in striving for
greater religious and interpersonal achievements. Each one of
Kli Yakar’s answers can be rooted in this Issur:
1. Since Nadav and Avihu reached their potential, they
thought they could relax and therefore entered the
Mishkan in a drunken state
2. Similarly, because they viewed themselves as so holy,
they felt it was superfluous to purify themselves with
the water of the Kior.
3. Since they achieved perfection, they did not need the
atonement of the Bigdei Kehunah (Arachin 16), so they
performed the Avodah without it.
4. Nadav and Avihu viewed themselves as the greatest
people of the generation so they had no issue with
teaching Halachah in Moshe Rabbeinu’s presence.
5. Likewise, since they had reached such a high level,
they saw it fit that they should be the leaders of Klal
Yisrael, rather than Moshe and Aharon.
6. Just as Moshe could speak with Hashem whenever he
wanted, so too Nadav and Avihu thought they could
enter the Mishkan whenever they wanted.
7. For this same reason they did not get married: Since
Moshe had to divorce Tzipporah because Hashem
spoke to him so frequently, so too Nadav and Avihu felt
it unrealistic to have their own families as they
assumed Hashem would speak with them in the same
way he did with Moshe.
We must learn from Nadav and Avihu’s terrible mistake not to
feel complacent when we are successful, especially in areas of
Torah and Mitzvot. Although it is important to feel a sense of
accomplishment when we do well, we must not let that joy get
in the way of future goals. I recently finished a Masechta of
Gemara and the next day I felt a little demoralized to start again
from Daf ב, but I realized that I cannot be satisfied with what I
have learned until now. We must continue to push ourselves to
become greater because every single one of us has the
potential to be great. The Rambam describes in Hilchot
Teshuvah that everyone has the ability to be a Tzaddik like
Moshe or a Rasha like Yeravam. B’ezrat Hashem we should
continually desire to push beyond our current level and all
reach the potential that HaKadosh Baruch Hu gave us.