Thursday, May 17, 2012

Heavenly Fire


In the parsha I'll be chanting tomorrow, we learn about the death of the sons of Aaron.  Nadav and Avihu have been trained to be priests in God's tabernacle by their father the High Priest. However we learn that they were burnt by a fire sent from Heaven for the sin of making a "strange offering" to God.  Was it a sin of hubris or drunkenness or misplaced enthusiasm?  Did the punishment fit the crime?

This weekend at the synagogue we will be learning and discussing what it is to be a holy people, mamlechet kohanim - a nation of priests.  The theme will continue on Sunday with the discussion following the screening of the holocaust film "Sarah's Key."

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