Remembrance and Independence, from bereavement to growth and from Holocaust to Revival
Rabbi Eliezer Shenvald - the Parasha in our everyday life – Parashat Shmini - Remembrance Day and Independence Day – 5781
In memory of Sgt. Meir Shenvald HY"D* and Lt. Harel Shrem HY"D - immortalized at the "Meir Harel" Hesder Yeshiva. *Hashem Yikkom Damo - May Hashem avenge his blood
In the coming week, Rosh Chodesh Iyar will take place, and we will enter the 'month of heroism'. During the week we will mark 'Memorial Day for the Fallen Soldiers', as a country we will embrace the bereaved families, we will salute and cherish the heroes who gave their lives in defense of the country.
Immediately upon its ending we will celebrate 'Independence Day' with praise and acknowledgment for the miracles and wonders we have enjoyed in the establishment of the state, רֵאשִׁית צְמִיחַת גְּאֻלָּתֵנוּ. "The start of flowering of Redemption", the existence and the wonderful achievements.
It is not for nothing that we had these two events in succession, they depend on and complement each other, despite the difficulty and complexity of connecting and the sharp transition between the two. Sequence reflects our national 'price of existence', for "no state has been handed to us on a silver platter".
But it also illustrates that bereavement is not meaningless and does not necessarily lead to inaction, it is a great crisis from which there is a possibility for renewal and growth, personal and national. The private memorials for the fallen, grow remarkable projects and actions that strengthen the nation and the state.
Our family was privileged to establish several significant memorial projects in memory of my brother Sgt. Meir HY"D being the top one, the Yeshiva in Modi'in that bears his name. The existence and prosperity of the whole country is to some extent also a great ‘commemorative project’ for the fallen on its preservation and existence.
Last week we mentioned the memory of those who perished in the Holocaust, and the tragedy that befell the Jewish nation that lost about a third of it- six million people. The proximity between Yom HaSho'a and Independence Day illustrates the necessity for an independent Jewish state that will be able to protect the Jewish people after two thousand years of exile and helpless dependence on other nations. But it also emphasizes the magnitude of the divine miracle that took place in the building and intensification of our country, from Holocaust to revival. The people of Israel were bruised and beaten, skin and bones, but rose to its feet from the ashes of the fiery furnaces with strength for life, creation, and construction. The catastrophe of the Holocaust did not give birth to a failure but was a burst of creative and action forces that made the State of Israel what it is, in such a short time.
וָאֶעֱבֹ֤ר עָלַ֙יִךְ֙ וָֽאֶרְאֵ֔ךְ מִתְבּוֹסֶ֖סֶת בְּדָמָ֑יִךְ וָאֹ֤מַר לָךְ֙ בְּדָמַ֣יִךְ חֲיִ֔י וָאֹ֥מַר לָ֖ךְ בְּדָמַ֥יִךְ חֲיִֽי׃
"When I passed by you and saw you wallowing in your blood, I said to you: “Live in spite of your blood.” Yea, I said to you: “Live in spite of your blood.” (Yehezkel 16:6)
In Parashat Shemini we read about the death of Nadab and Abihu, the two sons of Aharon:
וַיַּקְרִ֜בוּ לִפְנֵ֤י ה' אֵ֣שׁ זָרָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֧ר לֹ֦א צִוָּ֖ה אֹתָֽם׃ וַתֵּ֥צֵא אֵ֛שׁ מִלִּפְנֵ֥י ה' וַתֹּ֣אכַל אוֹתָ֑ם וַיָּמֻ֖תוּ לִפְנֵ֥י ה'׃ וַיֹּ֨אמֶר מֹשֶׁ֜ה אֶֽל־אַהֲרֹ֗ן הוּא֩ אֲשֶׁר־דִּבֶּ֨ר ה' לֵאמֹר֙ בִּקְרֹבַ֣י אֶקָּדֵ֔שׁ וְעַל־פְּנֵ֥י כָל־הָעָ֖ם אֶכָּבֵ֑ד וַיִּדֹּ֖ם אַהֲרֹֽן׃
"Now Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu … and they offered before Hashem alien fire, which He had not enjoined upon them. And fire came forth from Hashem and consumed them; thus, they died at the instance of Hashem. Then Moshe said to Aaron, “This is what Hashem meant when He said: Through those near to Me I show Myself holy, And gain glory before all the people.” And Aaron was silent." (Vayikra 10:1-3)
Aaron lost his special and beloved sons on the great joyous day of the dedication of the Tabernacle. Despite the great pain and grief over their death "Aaron was silent". Several commentaries have been given about this 'silence' of Aaron. Silence is a kind of 'Resignation' (Yalkut Teimani) An 'Internal emotional acceptance that is not caught amid guilt, anger and bitterness. Silence is also a mental willingness to comfort and heal the inner fracture': הָיָה לוֹ הַדָּבָר לְנֶחָמָה. "the thing was consolation for him". (Midrash Tanchuma Shmini Siman 1)
Consolation is the condition for growth and renewal out of bereavement and mourning. Contrary to what was said when Yaacov was mourning for his son Yosef:
וַיָּקֻמוּ֩ כָל־בָּנָ֨יו וְכָל־בְּנֹתָ֜יו לְנַחֲמ֗וֹ וַיְמָאֵן֙ לְהִתְנַחֵ֔ם וַיֹּ֕אמֶר כִּֽי־אֵרֵ֧ד אֶל־בְּנִ֛י אָבֵ֖ל שְׁאֹ֑לָה וַיֵּ֥בְךְּ אֹת֖וֹ אָבִֽיו׃
"All his sons and daughters sought to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted, saying, “No, I will go down mourning to my son in Sheol.” Thus, his father bewailed him". (Bereshit 37:35)
This kind of silence is not only a passive acceptance with what happened, but it is also how necessary conditions to create inner and spiritual strength are formed, since they were not available before the crisis and bereavement.
Perhaps this can be seen in what the Sages said:
"As a reward for Aaron's humility, he was privileged to bless Israel "Birkat Cohanim" which is sixty letters like וַיִּדֹּ֖ם- was silent" {the numerical value in Gimatria}, (Menorat HaMaor pg 158)
The 'blessing' of the Priests ברכת כהנים- Birkat Kohanim- is not just a collection of wishes. The 'blessing' is the 'abundance' and empowerment of life and creation forces that descend from Heaven. Aaron was the first to become a 'conducting pipe' for the appearance of this abundance and blessing, following his 'silence' in the shadow of bereavement, hence he bequeathed it to his descendants.
Out of this recognition, towards the end of the month, we will reach another step of spiritual redemption, the day of the liberation of Jerusalem and the Temple Mount, and the memory of the Defensive War - the Six Day War.
Wishing everyone, Moadim L’Simcha and Geulah Shleima!
(May your times be happy and may we all see soon the complete redemption).