Shalom Friends;
This week, our Parshat HaShevua, Bamidbar is sponsored by Rabbi Joel & Shelly Padowitz of Ramat Beit Shemesh dedicated B’Ezrat Hashem for the safety of the Chayalim and the liberation of all remaining hostages as well as for the good health and security of kol Am Yisrael.
You can celebrate a Simcha — a birth, a Bar/Bat Mitzvah, a Chassuna or other Simcha event in your life, or commemorate a Yahrtzeit of a loved one, or for whatever other reason by sponsoring a Parshat HaShevua.
Please forward to your relatives and friends and encourage them to sponsor a Parshat HaShevua. And please be in contact with me with any questions, or for further details.
Best Regards,
Moshe Burt
olehchadash@yahoo.com
skype: mark.burt3
Subscribe to the Israel and the Sin of Expulsion blog, to ask questions or to sponsor a Parsha Vort at: olehchadash@yahoo.com
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Midway through our Parshat Bamidbar, Torah pronounces the offspring of Aaron:
“These are the names of the sons of Aaron, the firstborn was Nadav, and Avihu, Elazar and Ithamar. These are the sons of Aaron, the anointed Kohanim whom he [Moshe] inaugurated to minister. Nadav and Avihu died before Hashem when they offered an alien fire before Hashem in the Wilderness of Sinai, and they had no children; but Elazar and Ithamar ministered during the lifetime of Aaron, their father.” (Sefer Bamidbar. Perek 3, posukim 1 – 4 rendered to English in The Artscroll Stone Edition Chumash)
Rabbi Shmuel Goldin renders Perek 3, posuk 4 a bit differently from the rendering in the Artscroll Stone Edition Chumash (page 19) :
“Nadav and Avihu died before the Lord when they offered a foreign fire before the Lord in the wilderness of Sinai, and they had no children; and Elazar and Ithamar ministered on the face of [al panai] Aaron, their father.”
Rav Dovid Feinstein, z”l wrote on Perek 3, posuk 4 in his sefer “Kol Dodi” (pages 211 – 212) :
Torah tells us that Nadav and Avihu, …died before Hashem, which means that only Hashem knew why they died. If so, the mere fact that they had brought the “alien fire” was not sufficient reason to cause their death.
The reason is that the two Kohanim had spoken against Moshe and Aaron: “When will these two old men die so that we can take over leadership of the generation.” (Rav Feinstein citing Sanhedrin 52a) This shows that they felt that they could relate more effectively than their elders to the needs and the thinking of the younger generation.
In punishment, Hashem brought about their deaths in a manner and for a reason that everyone could see and understand, the offering of the alien fire, which represented a new and unauthorized form of service. There was poetic justice in this, in that their subversive outlook was truly an aish zara, alien fire, in contrast to the aish dat, fire of religion (Rav Feinstein citing Sefer Devarim, Perek 33. posuk 2), with which Moshe kindled the soul of the people until his very last day.
Just as Nadav and Avihu seem to have had ulterior motives (Noun: a secret reason for doing something; a purpose, often the main purpose, that is kept hidden) of power-seeking for their comments and actions, so too, the IDF high command echelons, along with certain opposing political forces, may well have had their ulterior political motivations, concerning the possibility of toppling the current governmental coalition, alongside their total misconception concerning the intentions of Hamas, their Islamic Jihad buddies, the so-called “innocent Gazan civilians,” as well as Hamas’ UNWRA personnel co-conspirators — not to mention the Red Cross who ignored the Jews again, just as in the Sho’ah.
Rabbi Goldin writes regarding his rendering of Perek 3, posuk 4; “Elazar and Ithamar ministered on the face of [al panai] Aaron, their father.” (pages 22 – 23) :
Diametrically opposed opinions are cited in Midrash and reflected in the commentaries concerning the Torah’s declaration: “Elazar and Ithamar ministered on the face of [al panai] Aaron, their father.”
The Midrash relates that Rabbi Yitzchak inteprets this phrase to mean that Elazar and Ithamar served during their father’s lifetime. If Aaron contracted ritual impurity, Elazar served as Kohen Godol in his stead, and if Elazar subsequently became ritually impure, Ithamar assumed the mantle of the High Priesthood. As proof of Rabbi Yitzchak’s position, the Midrash quotes the passage in Breish’t stating that Avraham’s brother Haran “died on the face of [during the lifetime of] his father Terach.” (Rabbi Goldin citing Sefer Breish’t, Perek 11, posuk 28)
Rabbi Chiya, on the other hand, interprets the statement concerning Aaron’s sons to mean that they served after their father’s death. When Aaron died, Elazar became High Priest, and when Elazar expired, Ithamar assumed that role. To bolster Rabbi Chiya’s position, the Midrash cites the passage “and Avraham rose up from on the face of his dead,” (Rabbi Goldin citing Sefer Breish’t, Perek 23, posuk 3) referring to Avraham’s actions after Sarah’s death.
Rashi, following the position of Rabbi Yitzchak, explains that the Torah’s statement: “Elazar and Ithamar ministered on the face of [al panai] Aaron, their father” indicates that Aaron’s sons served as High Priests during their father’s lifetime.
…The Chatam Sofer… maintains that Elazar and Ithamar served against their father’s will. (Rabbi Goldin citing Torat Moshe, Parsha Naso) Deeply frightened by the fate of his oldest sons…, Aaron did not want to expose his oldest sons to the dangers associated with the Priesthood. Nevertheless, Elazar and Ithamar, recognizing their responsibilities, insist upon assuming the Kehuna. The Torah’s statement that Elazar and Ithamar “ministered on the face of Aaron,” the Chatam Sofer explains, is similar to the phrase “and the tribute passed on his face,” (Rabbi Goldin citing Sefer Breish’t, Perek 32, posuk 22) describing the gifts sent by Yaakov to his brother Eisev.
Returning to Rav Dovid Feinstein, z”l : In his sefer, “Kol Dodi,” he writes (page 212) :
“And they did not have children.” The Sages reasoned from these words that if Nadav and Avihu had had children they would not have died. (Rav Feinstein citing Yevamos 64a) How do we understand this? If they had committed a sin worthy of the death penalty, why would their family status have made a difference in their punishment?
The Chabad.org website indicates that there are at least seven aveirahs committed by Nadav and Avihu resulting in their deaths, in addition to the alien fire. One of these was staying celibate:
They never married, and remaining single for no good reason is a sin. Many single women were hoping to marry them, but Nadav and Avihu would say, “The brother of our father [Moses] is a king, the brother of our mother [Nachshon] is a prince, our father [Aaron] is the High Priest, and we are the two vice high priests—which woman is good enough for us?” (Chabad.org citing Vayikra Rabbah 20:10)
Returning again to Rav Dovid Feinstein, z”l : In his sefer, “Kol Dodi,” he writes (page 212) :
It is obvious that when someone is punished with death, his family also suffers. Even though Nadav and Avihu were worthy of the death penalty, perhaps Hashem would have considered it unjust that their children be left ophans and might have spared Nadav and Avihu on that account.
An implication of this is that one should try to form as many connections as possible in his life… There might come a time when he could be spared from a punishment that had been decreed against him because others would suffer unfairly if the decree were carried out.
This is the meaning of the verse: “even if one angel out of a thousand would testify to one’s good deeds, then he will be saved. (Chabad.org citing Iyov 33:23) The more numerous the people who are dependent upon an individual, the more likely it is that the scales of justice will be tipped in his favor by the harm they would suffer if he were to die.
But to sum up: Chabad’s weekly publication “Living Jewish” for 25 April, 2025, in the “From Our Sages” section:
The Command is Central
The essence of fulfilling a Mitzvah lies in it being a Divine Command. Therefore, even though Nadav and Avihu were great spiritual figures with lofty, mystical intentions, they still died — because they had not been commanded. From this, we learn that one who fulfills a Mitzvah in order to fulfill Hashem’s command, even without understanding its mystical meanings, is greater than one who performs an act with deep intention but without Divine command.
Our Chayalim went to battle on 7 October, as they have in all of Israel’s previous wars, with a Divine Mandate — to fight for their fellow Jews, for the Will of Hashem. Unfortunately, it seems that the same can’t be said for much of the High Command echelons, the Shin Bet, Israel’s electronic mainstream media and leftist political echelons — Israel’s deep state.
We may be seeing positive changes with appointments of a new defense minister, foreign minister and military chief of staff who seem to be signaling a more zealous, diligent command structure and strategy based on valid understandings of their adversary’s intentions and concern for Israel’s sovereignty and security. And may see, from here on, that border guard personnel are listened to and treated with respect and dignity. May these words come to fruition B’Esrat Hashem.
Not withstanding the previous horrendous “ceasefires” and drips and drabs of hostages in exchange for thousands of bloody-handed terrorists, may it be that our Chayalim, regardless of the machinations of malfeasance and nonfeasance by their previous high command to date, but now under command of both a new defense minister and chief of staff, emerge totally victorious — eradicating from the face of the earth Hamas, Islamic Jihad, their other terrorist buddies, UNWRA and the so-called “innocent civilians” of Gaza who joined with Hamas in their murderous deeds. May our Chayalim return home whole — physically, mentally and spiritually and that the Chayalim Liberate and bring home all remaining hostages. May we see a Final and Decisive victory by our Chayalim, mandated by a government secure in it’s foremost service of and emunah in HaKadosh Borchu, B’Ezrat Hashem! And may we see the restoration of true unity within Am Yisrael.
May we, the B’nei Yisrael be zocha that our brethren — the refugee families from Gush Katif be permanently re-settled in Gush Katif, once the IDF, by the Yad Hashem, destructs and eradicates the wild beasts of Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Hezbollah, all other terror entities, and if necessary Iran, and that our brethren be made totally whole — be totally restituted for all that was stolen from them, that the thrice expelled families of Amona be restored to their rebuilt homes and the oft-destroyed Yeshiva buildings in Homesh be rebuilt, as well as the buildings of Yishuv Elchanan, all at total government expense. May our Chayalim return from battle unharmed — physically, mentally and spiritually and may all of the remaining hostages brutally taken by the wild beasts of Hamas be liberated and brought home to their families. Baruch Hashem that our dear brother Jonathan Pollard is now in his fifth year at home in Eretz Yisrael and continues in a new chapter in his life. May Esther Yocheved bat Yechiel Avraham have an aliyah in Shemayim and may her spirit and memory continue to lift Jonathan to at least 120 years. May the MIAs be liberated alive and returned to us in ways befitting Al Kiddush Hashem — as with the return in April, 2019, via Russia, of the remains of Zachariah Baumel, as should the remains of the two chayalim from the Gaza War of ten years ago. May we have the courage and strength to stand up and physically prevent the possibility of Chas V’Challila any future eviction of Jews from their homes and prevent Chas V’Challila the handing of Jewish land over to anyone, let alone to enemies sworn to Israel’s and Judaism’s destruction and eradication. May we see, in 5785, the REAL Jews from the Ukraine and Russia as well as the US and Canada, the real Jews via matrilineal descent, make Aliyah enmass — via thorough review by Misrad HaPanim. And may we soon and finally see the total end to the Communist Chinese Wuhan Lab corona virus pandemic and all like viruses and variants. May we fulfill Hashem’s blueprint of B’nei Yisrael as a Unique people — an Am Segula, not to be reckoned with as with “the nations” and may we be zocha to see the Moshiach, the Ge’ula Shlaima, as Dov Shurin sings; “Ki Karov Yom Hashem Al’Kol HaGoyim”, the Ultimate Redemption, bimhayrah b’yamainu — speedily, in our time”, — Achshav, Chik Chuk, Miyad, Etmol!!!
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Moshe Burt, an Oleh, is a commentator on news and events in Israel and Founder and Director of The Sefer Torah Recycling Network. He lives in Ramat Beit Shemesh.
Moshe is available for editing of English language documents, articles, manuscripts and more. Please be in contact with him at olehchadash@yahoo.com for your English language needs.
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