Siftei Chachamim - R’ Shabbetai ben Yoseph Bass (1641-1718), Poland, Prague, Germany, Amsterdam; A commentary on Rashi’s commentary on Chumash. Mostly a collection of other commentaries, in addition to the author’s own insight meant to give a basic understanding of Rashi.
Mishkan’s dedication, until they issued a ruling before Moshe, their teacher. You have Moshe Rabbeinu as your Rebbe – if you want to perform new actions, just ask him! Do not try to rise above him!
There is a story told about one of the Rebbes who went to Tashlich on Rosh Hashanah. He turned his pockets inside out and recited: וְ תַשׁ ְ לִ יך בִּ מְ צֻ לוֹת יָם כָּ ל חַ טּ ֹאתָ ם – And cast into the depths of the sea all their sins. At that exact moment, one of his chassidim opened a plastic bag and shouted: “Rebbe! Cast everything into here!” “What’s wrong with you?!” asked the Rebbe. The chassid then said to him: “Believe me, Rebbe, from your sins, I make Mitzvot! What you cast away – I take!”
הקב"ה מְדַקְ דֵּק עִם חֲסִידָיו כְּחוּט הַשְּׂעָרָ ה – Hakadosh Baruch Hu is precise with His chassidim to the breadth of a hair; with the great ones of the generation, small things that are considered Mitzvot for us are regarded as sins for them. Nadav and Avihu sought to elevate themselves above their level, to understand the ways of Hakadosh Baruch Hu in the world – they were held accountable and taken from the world! Therefore, for such a matter, they sat shiva even before their passing, as this was not an ordinary death! People generally die due to sins that create distance between themselves and Hakadosh Baruch Hu, but Nadav and Avihu died because they wanted to ascend higher and be closer to Hakadosh Baruch Hu! For this, shiva is observed even before the sin and death.
May Hakadosh Baruch Hu grant us the merit to walk in His straight paths, and in this merit, may we be privileged to the complete redemption, speedily in our days.
