By Rabbi Dovid Sapirman, Dean, Ani Maamin Foundation
A person who is truly saturated with emunah will accept without complaint whatever Providence brings his way. In this week’s parsha, we have the prime example.
It was the height of unimaginable simcha, the moment the Shechinah descended to rest on the Mishkan. Klal Yisrael had been forgiven after Cheit Ha’eigel through Moshe Rabbeinu’s tefillos. They were told to build a Mishkan that would testify to Hashem’s renewed favor and His presence among them. Aharon had been chosen to be Kohen Gadol, progenitor of all future kohanim. And at this very moment, a terrible tragedy unfolded. Nadav and Avihu sinned and were punished with death, sending Aharon Hakohen into a state of mourning. The Torah says, “Aharon was silent.” He uttered no complaint, but rather accepted the Heavenly decree.
Chazal tell us that Aharon was rewarded for his silence. All the mitzvos of the Torah were given through Moshe, except for one. At this moment, Aharon was given the revelation of a mitzvah: the prohibition to perform the Mishkan service after drinking wine.
How could Aharon have received prophecy at this moment of tragic sadness? The Shechina only rests on a person who is in a state of simcha. Aharon was able to compartmentalize his emotions and still experience the joy of his relationship with the Creator.
According to one opinion of Chazal, Nadav and Avihu’s sin was to imbibe wine before entering the Mishkan to perform the service. If so, the mitzvah given to Aharon at this moment was the one which had just caused the death of his two sons. Nevertheless, he was able to receive it in a state of mind conducive to prophecy.
This is a great lesson to us. When we daven, we stand before Hashem. How would we feel standing before an autocratic monarch in whose hands is life and death? When we daven, we must know that we are in the presence of Hashem, direct our full attention to Him, and not be distracted by anything else.
