Shemini: Marred Celebration

Parshas Shmini continues the story of the investiture of the priesthood. At the climax Moshe and Aharon come out of the ohel moed and bless the people. G-d’s glory then appears to the nation and fire comes out from before Him and consumes the korbon oleh that is on the altar. The people cry out in joyful exultation and fall on their faces in prostration.


At this point Aharon’s two son’s, Nadav and Avihu, put hot coals in their fire pan, pour incense on them and offer it before Hashem. The Chumash describes it as a strange (זר) fire that was not commanded of them. Fire from Hashem then comes down and consumes them and they die before Hashem. Moshe then comments to Aharon, “Now I understand what G-d meant when He said that He will be sanctified by those close to me in the presence of the people.”

Moshe instructs Aharon and his sons not to publicly mourn and to continue with the festive inauguration. Moshe finds that Aharon has burnt one of the sin offerings he was intended to eat and questions him about it. Aharon responds that after such a tragedy befell him what it be good in G-d’s eyes for him to eat of this offering, and Moshe understands his point of view. The general view of the commentaries is that the behavior of Nadiv and Avihu somehow really was improper, but none the less they were very great men.

The death of the two sons of Aharon occurred during the opening of the Temple. The passage raises the question as to what is the proper way to behave when tragedy mars a major celebration. I remember a story told by Rabbi Cordoza. He said that a distinguished rabbi, noted for his righteousness, was seated at the head table of a wedding banquet. Suddenly he got up from his chair and went outside where he collapsed dead. The rabbi’s friends commented that he apparently knew what was happening but, if he perished in the hall it would have destroyed the happiness of the groom and the bride. Therefore with his last drop of strength he left the room before he perished.

One cannot deny that the dedication of the mishkan and the priests is an exceedingly happy celebration. Consequently it would not be right for Aharon and his son’s to simply leave or even to publicly conduct themselves in mourning. They must finish the event with as much dignity as possible. Never the less there should be some recognition of the horrible event that has just transpired. On that day three sin offerings were brought. One was brought by the cohanim in recognition of their investiture. A second was brought by chiefs of the tribes. The third was part of the regular offering brought for the coming month. It was the third one that was burnt and not eaten. This lets us know how we, too, should behave in such a difficult situation. To decline one of the first two would cast aspersions on the cohanim or the tribes. Not eating of the normal offering gives recognition that generally something went very wrong.