The week of holiness, heroism, and silence
Parsha and its realization - Parshat Acharei Mot - Heroism Week- Iron Swords 5784
Rabbi Eliezer Haim Shenvald
Dedicated to the IDF soldiers' success, to safeguard them lest any harm come to them, to the healing of all the wounded and the return of the abducted.
In recent years, the week between the Holocaust Remembrance Day and the Memorial Day (for the Fallen Soldiers of the Wars of Israel and Victims of Actions of Terrorism( and Independence Day, has been named the 'Heroism Week'. This indicates a sequence that connects these events and their meaning. In the first years of the state, the Holocaust Remembrance Day was established on the 27th of Nisan, in connection with the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising (which broke out on the 14th of Nisan 5703 (1943). The Chief Rabbinate set the 10th of Tevet, the day of the general Kaddish for the victims of the Holocaust since the month of Nisan is a month in which there is no mourning). In the early days, the state sought to sanctify the value of the heroism of those who took their fate into their own hands, and were not left powerless, and therefore sought to exalt the heroism of the rebels in the ghetto against the Nazis as a miracle and observe the Holocaust through it.
Over the years, the meaning of heroism during the Holocaust has expanded. Holocaust survivors shared with the public the stories of how they bravely faced the inhuman situations they had to face, in the ghettos, and in the labor and extermination camps. How they managed to heroically keep one's humanity in the inferno, about the sanctity of life, mutual help. How they survived the inferno with special bravery and resourcefulness, by hiding, escaping, and impersonating. Stories about keeping Torah and Mitzvot whenever possible. And stories about faith that stuck with them despite the great ordeal of ‘pretending’ and the unbearable horrors. Faith that gave them hope and strength to survive. The strength to deal with the difficult loss of relatives, to grow out of the crisis, to start a family, and to contribute to the growth and rise of the State of Israel.
The terrible holocaust showed everyone that the people of Israel must have the ability to defend itself and cannot be dependent on other nations for its existence. Our existence depends on us being united. It showed that the hatred for the people of Israel among the nations does not depend on anything else, beyond us being Jewish, and it does not matter what our religious, political, and social views are, and how much we try to please them. That we are "Am HaNetzach", the Eternal People. That means not only an age-old bond with the Creator but also a constant reckoning with those who seek to destroy us in the most painful ways possible; we are able to survive unimaginable crises, which no other nation has survived, grow from them, and to establish G-d willing, a progressive and leading Jewish state. There are qualities of supreme heroism in the people of Israel that are manifested when they are faced with an existential threat and when real goals are set before them. From these we draw optimism, faith and hope even when we face difficulties in the present.
The heroism chain continues to grow out of this awareness, from its inception until today. The holy heroes, the best boys who stood as pioneers in the battle front, who gave their lives for the sanctification of G-d’s Name, the people, and the land, defending the country’s existence. A chain that has its roots in the heroism of the founders of the nation, and throughout the generations in the heroism of the heroes of the Bible, the Hasmoneans, the disciples of Rabbi Akiva in the rebellion, and more.
On Memorial Day for the Fallen Soldiers of the Wars of Israel, the people and the country unite with their memory in official events, exalt their heroism, salute, and cherish them for their sacrifice. We stand by their silent holy graves with gratefulness and gratitude for they paid with their own lives. On this day we embrace the bereaved families who paid the highest price of all. Their bravery and strength, out of understanding the justice of the war, give the country the needed strength to exist and face the difficult price of its existence.
The Parasha "Acharei Mot" brings us back to Aaron’s tragedy and bereavement over his sons at the dedication of the Mishkan.
Of their death it is said:
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר מֹשֶׁ֜ה אֶֽל אַהֲרֹ֗ן הוּא֩ אֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּ֨ר ה' לֵאמֹר֙ בִּקְרֹבַ֣י אֶקָּדֵ֔שׁ וְעַל פְּנֵ֥י כׇל הָעָ֖ם אֶכָּבֵ֑ד וַיִּדֹּ֖ם אַהֲרֹֽן׃
“Then Moshe said to Aaron, “This is what Hashem meant by saying: Through those near to Me I show Myself holy, And gain glory before all the people.” And Aaron was silent.” (Vayikra 10:3)
וידום אהרן - מאבלותו ולא בכה ולא התאבל
“And Aaron was silent - He desisted from his mourning, did not weep and did not perform rites of the mourning.” (Rashbam ibid)
The natural reaction of a bereaved father in the presence of his sons who are lying dead (G-d forbid) is to cry. Crying of pain and sorrow, mourning and helplessness, complaining about his fate. But Aaron stood bravely, in silence, in complete acceptance:
מגיד שבחו של אהרן שהיה שותק ברצון גמור, שוה בדעתו, בלי שום ערעור על המקרה שאירע לו
"Praise Aaron for he was silent, perfectly willingly, conscious, without any objection to the incident that happened to him" (HaKtav VeHaKabalah Vayikra 10:3).
His silence stemmed from looking at the picture from a higher place, a higher level, that sees the general meaning of the loss:
כיון שמתו בני אהרן אמר לו אהרן אחי לא מתו בניך אלא להקדיש שמו של הקב"ה כיון שידע אהרן שבניו ידועי מקום הן שתק וקבל שכר שנאמר (ויקרא י, ג) וידום אהרן
“Once the sons of Aaron died, Moshe said to him: Aaron, my brother, your sons died only to sanctify the name of the Holy One, Blessed be He. When Aaron knew that his sons were beloved by the Omnipresent, he was silent and received a reward, as it is stated: “And Aaron held his peace [vayidom].”” (Zevachim 115b)
Their death resulted from their offering of 'alien fire' – This is a deviation from the commanded way, and clarified how in the holy work, it is forbidden to stray away, due to its seriousness and superiority. And there are no 'discounts' even for great and holy people.
To merit such a significant outlook at a time of disaster and bereavement, restraint and bravery are needed. This was also David's reaction in the face of his casualties in battle, in understanding the righteousness of the way of his war:
וכן בדוד הוא אומר (תהלים לז, ז) דּ֤וֹם לַה' וְהִתְח֪וֹלֵ֫ל ל֥וֹ אע"פ שמפיל לך חללים חללים את שתוק
“And likewise in a verse written by David it states: “Resign yourself [dom] to Hashem and wait patiently [vehitḥolel] for Him” (Psalms 37:7). Although He strikes down many corpses [ḥalalim] around you, you be silent and do not complain”. (Zevachim 115b:14)
We will pray and hope that we will be worthy of their sacrifice.