Making the Most of Life

April 5-6, 2013 / 26 Nisan 5773

Shabbat Shemini

Torah: Leviticus 9:1 - 11:47 / Haftarah: II Samuel 6:1 - 7:17

“Making the Most of Life”

Dear Friends,

Did Nadav and Avihu deserve to die?  The two sons of Aaron, essentially priests in training, were just fooling around with the sacrificial altar.  I am sure they thought that no one would find out what they were doing and that it would be a lot of fun to offer ‘strange fire’ on the altar in the Tabernacle tent.  After all, they were favored princes of Israel.  They were sons of Aaron and amongst the elite, with everything going for them and everything available to them.  Yet, they chose to act in an irresponsible manner that brought them down from their favored position of leadership.  Whatever they were doing ended in tragedy as fire leapt out from the altar and killed them.  Their action was unbecoming of their status and disrespectful of all that the Children of Israel and even God had invested in them.

Now compare Nadav and Avihu with modern urban teachers and leaders who mentor young adults, although lacking resources and opportunities of the well off. Compare the favored sons of Aaron with those who run inner city sports and study programs, free dance classes, summer activities, community gardens to get kids of the streets and give them some enrichment.  Compare the upstart princes to those who dedicate so much personal time to empowering the youth.   Due to their diligence, perseverance, strength of character, they are able to go above and beyond everyone's expectations.  While Nadav and Avihu squandered the gifts given to them, great teachers and mentors make the most of life and raise us all in the process.  That is the Jewish way.  That is the fundamental Jewish message of being a mentsch, being responsible and making the most of every situation - which explains why the Jewish people, though small in numbers, continue to emerge as powerful leaders in the world.

Every year we read the story of Nadav and Avihu, so that we will be warned not to descend to decadence and wastefulness.  Rather, we are enjoined to seek the path to opportunity, possibility, creativity and growth.  We are commanded to live life to the fullest in the service of family, friends, and community.

Shabbat shalom,

Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow