Parshat Achrei-Mot Kedoshim 5772’: Blood, Purim and the Real You!
The Weekly Mission: Parshat Achrei-Mot Kedoshim 5772’
Blood, Purim, and the Real You
The death of Nadav and Avihu offer tremendous insight into the relationship that Man aspires to create with him/herself and the Source thereafter. Our commentators suggest many different plausible reasons for the death of these two brothers. RaShI sources the Talmud which states it was because they instructed themselves what to do without the accord of Moshe. In addition another Tanna[i] extrapolates from the juxtaposed verse that it was because they did the temple service intoxicated. Lastly, the verses before this unfortunate event reveals that the fire that was meant to consume the offering was a fire from above (sent by G-d), while the fire offered by Nadav and Avihu was a Aish Zarah, a fire which did not belong.
The three reasons provided all share the common denominator of seeking out personal authority through externalities. Denying the laws of the leader, deafening self-awareness, and applying that which does not belong conveys a sense of uncertainty of self, a lack of command over what is objectively right, and being so caught up in places and things that do not belong that it causes the self to no longer belong, and thus “a fire came forth and consumed them, and they died in the presence of G-d.”[ii] Though it appears they had the purest of intentions, the Amelek within caused them to disregard their essence as leaders and impulsively act based on external forces and reasoning.
This week’s Torah portion we learn that the only fixing for being hyperconscious on everything but yourself is to retreat to the most hidden, and bring about its true meaning and sanctity. The Holy of holies is a room that is the most hidden of places. It is the center of centers, the highest physical manifest of the Shekhina. Once a year, on the holiday of Yom Kippur the Kohen would enter into the Holy of Holies. Though most of us are not children of Kohanim, each of us still possess the ability to delve into our own Holy of Holies—our inner core and essence—and eradicate the Amelek within.
Next we have the topic of blood. There is not a single more significant liquid which defines the existence of the animal kingdom and the human species the way blood does. Blood, the Torah says, is Man’s essence, and thus “blood of any type of flesh you may not eat because blood is the vitality of all flesh, all who eat from it shall be cut off.”[iii] Blood is something which is never meant to be seen, it is the most hidden of all life forces. When revealed blood’s color changes from blue to red, and thus we are reminded of its hidden nature. Like blood, Yom Kippur is a time for us to look within ourselves, in the places we never go during the year in order to reveal what has been covered, and soften that which is hardened—your heart. What is your heart? The Tachana Merkazeet where all your blood cycles through![iv] The rectification of Nadav and Avihu is delving into the deep blue-sea of the self in order to reveal the hidden, because “blood is the vitality (nefesh) that will atone.”[v]
Rebbe Nachman teaches that the entire work we do during Sfirah is preparation for the holiday none other than purim.[vi] Was it not Haman the monkey who represents the doubt and psychological destruction of Amelek? Was it not during the Omer that we travelled out of Egypt and partook in a battle against Amelek?! The entire fixing of Sfirat Ha’Omer is to explore the deeper part of who you are, and constantly be wowed at how deep you truly go, mamesh, to the Holy of Holies—“wow!”
This Week I will try to: Not forget that we sat as Kings just a month ago at the Seder, expressing our initial desire for freedom, this freedom demands much effort from us. Amelek is strong, but your essence is stronger! We must ask, if I have not once stood in my Holy of Holies, if I have not recognized the blood flow in my heart, how can I combat the familiar force of Amelek, how can defeat my oppressor without a sword girded to my waste? Let us rectify and correct all experiences that we were not tuned into our essence by taking the Shabbat to go inward.Shabbat Shalom!
Stay tuned for Pesach Sheini+Lag B’Omer mission, Please G-d!
[i] Talmudic sage (from the years 0 C.E-210 C.E)
[ii] Leviticus-10:3
[iii] Ibid 17:14
[iv] The Sfira of Malchut corresponds to the legs, for the legs are the core of a person’s ability to do. It is the ground they stand on, the foundation of their abilities. Malchut is where all other energy flows, hence the Tachana Merkazeet (Central Bus Station) –Rav Moshe Weinberger
[v] 17:11
[vi] Lekutay Mehoran 10
Blood, Purim, and the Real You
The death of Nadav and Avihu offer tremendous insight into the relationship that Man aspires to create with him/herself and the Source thereafter. Our commentators suggest many different plausible reasons for the death of these two brothers. RaShI sources the Talmud which states it was because they instructed themselves what to do without the accord of Moshe. In addition another Tanna[i] extrapolates from the juxtaposed verse that it was because they did the temple service intoxicated. Lastly, the verses before this unfortunate event reveals that the fire that was meant to consume the offering was a fire from above (sent by G-d), while the fire offered by Nadav and Avihu was a Aish Zarah, a fire which did not belong.
The three reasons provided all share the common denominator of seeking out personal authority through externalities. Denying the laws of the leader, deafening self-awareness, and applying that which does not belong conveys a sense of uncertainty of self, a lack of command over what is objectively right, and being so caught up in places and things that do not belong that it causes the self to no longer belong, and thus “a fire came forth and consumed them, and they died in the presence of G-d.”[ii] Though it appears they had the purest of intentions, the Amelek within caused them to disregard their essence as leaders and impulsively act based on external forces and reasoning.
This week’s Torah portion we learn that the only fixing for being hyperconscious on everything but yourself is to retreat to the most hidden, and bring about its true meaning and sanctity. The Holy of holies is a room that is the most hidden of places. It is the center of centers, the highest physical manifest of the Shekhina. Once a year, on the holiday of Yom Kippur the Kohen would enter into the Holy of Holies. Though most of us are not children of Kohanim, each of us still possess the ability to delve into our own Holy of Holies—our inner core and essence—and eradicate the Amelek within.
Next we have the topic of blood. There is not a single more significant liquid which defines the existence of the animal kingdom and the human species the way blood does. Blood, the Torah says, is Man’s essence, and thus “blood of any type of flesh you may not eat because blood is the vitality of all flesh, all who eat from it shall be cut off.”[iii] Blood is something which is never meant to be seen, it is the most hidden of all life forces. When revealed blood’s color changes from blue to red, and thus we are reminded of its hidden nature. Like blood, Yom Kippur is a time for us to look within ourselves, in the places we never go during the year in order to reveal what has been covered, and soften that which is hardened—your heart. What is your heart? The Tachana Merkazeet where all your blood cycles through![iv] The rectification of Nadav and Avihu is delving into the deep blue-sea of the self in order to reveal the hidden, because “blood is the vitality (nefesh) that will atone.”[v]
Rebbe Nachman teaches that the entire work we do during Sfirah is preparation for the holiday none other than purim.[vi] Was it not Haman the monkey who represents the doubt and psychological destruction of Amelek? Was it not during the Omer that we travelled out of Egypt and partook in a battle against Amelek?! The entire fixing of Sfirat Ha’Omer is to explore the deeper part of who you are, and constantly be wowed at how deep you truly go, mamesh, to the Holy of Holies—“wow!”
This Week I will try to: Not forget that we sat as Kings just a month ago at the Seder, expressing our initial desire for freedom, this freedom demands much effort from us. Amelek is strong, but your essence is stronger! We must ask, if I have not once stood in my Holy of Holies, if I have not recognized the blood flow in my heart, how can I combat the familiar force of Amelek, how can defeat my oppressor without a sword girded to my waste? Let us rectify and correct all experiences that we were not tuned into our essence by taking the Shabbat to go inward.Shabbat Shalom!
Stay tuned for Pesach Sheini+Lag B’Omer mission, Please G-d!
[i] Talmudic sage (from the years 0 C.E-210 C.E)
[ii] Leviticus-10:3
[iii] Ibid 17:14
[iv] The Sfira of Malchut corresponds to the legs, for the legs are the core of a person’s ability to do. It is the ground they stand on, the foundation of their abilities. Malchut is where all other energy flows, hence the Tachana Merkazeet (Central Bus Station) –Rav Moshe Weinberger
[v] 17:11
[vi] Lekutay Mehoran 10
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