Parshat Achrei Mot; Leviticus 16:1 -18:30 By: Rabbi Denise L. Eger

The name of our portion this week, Achrei Mot, makes reference to the fact that previously two of Aaron’s sons, Nadav and Avihu both priests, died because they came into the Tent of Meeting and offered some type of offering on the altar that was not called for. The tradition teaches that they were inebriated and made a mockery of their sacred duties. Other teachings state that they were trying to co-opt the power of their father, Aaron. While yet other interpretations say that Nadav and Avihu violated the sacred boundary of the Holy of Holies which was only for the High Priest to come to once a year and offered a sacrifice that was not called for and was not in proper form or time. For this they died.

Thus this portion begins by with warning to Aaron the High Priest and clarifies his duties in regard to the Tent of Meeting and sacrifices and specifically the Holy of Holies. The text states he just can’t come in to the sacred Holy precincts of the Tent whenever he desires but only when summoned or at a specific time. God will summon Aaron by a sign of a cloud that will appear over the cover. This cloud is of great debate among the commentators. Some believe it is the same cloud that guided the Israelites by day. A pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night guided the Israelites through the desert. Some of our interpreters like Rashi and Rashbam hold that God’s presence was known in the cloud that descended upon the entire Tent. Yet other commentators teach us that this cloud was a cloud of incense smoke that was created when the High Priest would enter the Holy of Holies. This is according to the teaching of Ibn Ezra.

But the teaching of our portion is that even the High Priest, Aaron, who communes with God and expiates the sin of the entire people doesn’t have the privilege of entering into the Divine Presence whenever he wishes. He must wait to be summoned and he must be prepared. He has to wear special garments and take ritual baths before entering and leaving and he even changes his clothing several times in the course of some of the rituals. These serve as symbolic moments of change and purification. But they also serve to remind the High Priest of his own mortal status. Our tradition does not want the priesthood or the High Priest to see itself as an extension of Divinity. They must bathe, they must change their clothes. They can not simply whisk in and out of the Holy of Holies and think that somehow they will control or change the “program” because of convenience or because it is somehow expedient to do so. The right attitude, the kavannah of the priest in this case Aaron is a critical part of the formula for meeting with the Holy Divine Presence and offering the sacrifices and performing the rituals.

Today we can learn from this section of our Torah portion that our own attitude in God’s House matters. How do we enter into the sanctuary before the ark? Do we enter full of ourselves and our achievements or do we come in with humility to seek God’s Presence? Do we enter our rituals of prayer and thanksgivings with the emphasis on what can God do for me? Or do we ask how can I be of service to God in the world? Our tradition also teaches that, “You shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation” (Ex 19:6). Today we like Aaron of old must enter into sacred space with a deep understanding that God summons us and invites our presence rather than it being us that demands God to appear. This subtle shift of emphasis is important. The more we make demands the harder it is to be in communion with the Holy One. We don’t have to wait for the cloud to descend but we do have fixed times and rituals that help us be in touch with the Holy Sacred One. Now we as the Jewish people need to get back into the regular rhythm of communing with Divine when the Holy Blessed One calls out to us to do so. Take some time on Shabbat to pray. Pray each day. Say a bracha a blessing. With Passover soon here-share and recall the Exodus from Egypt at a Seder meal. Live your Judaism and you will see—God will call out and invite you inside and you will be able to add the Divine strength to help you each and every day.