Mitzvah of Joy
In our parsha this week we read “...you shall guard my statutes and my commandments, that a person shall observe and live through them, I am Adonai Your God.” Rambam teaches that we live through them by observing the mitzvot with chiyut, great energy and joy. His source text for this is Devarim 28:47 which states that God brought judgment upon Israel for not serving “Adonai your God with joyfulness and gladness of heart”. He thus considers observing the mitzvot with joy and a
Mantles of Prophet & Priest
Our parsha this week describes the tragic death of Aharon’s sons, Nadav and Avihu, who were consumed by a heavenly fire for inappropriate offerings. The text is vague as to what they did wrong and why God reacted so strongly. It says: Nadav and Avihu took their trays and “put in them fire; they placed on it incense; they brought near before Adonai fire, strange fire, that He did not command them. Fire came out from before Adonai; it consumed them; they died before Adonai.” S
