Torah for your table! Parshas Sh’mini

In this week’s parsha, Sh’mini, after the inauguration of the Mishkan, Moshe tells Aaron that he is going to be the kohan gadol- high priest- in the Mishkan. Moshe tells Aaron that the role of priesthood was taken away from him because initially, he refused Hashem’s request to redeem the Jewish people from Egypt. Aaron did not want to take that position from his brother, especially after Moshe put in so much work erecting the Mishkan, he felt Moshe was due the honor for the position of kohan gadol. Moreover, Moshe replies to Aaron,

“Just as you exulted when you heard that I was selected by Hashem to lead the Jewish people, so I rejoice that you will serve as the high priest!”

From this, it is clear to see how Moshe felt pure simcha-joy- for his brother’s new position in Jewish society. He did not display jealousy, or feelings of hate that Hashem picked Aaron for the role over him, rather Moshe understood that Hashem has a specific role for every single Jew. Moshe was able to feel complete happiness for his brother, because he was able to see how Hashem had given Aaron the tools to actualize his potential in this world, while Hashem gave Moshe different tools to actualize a different potential. In all, we should recognize that in life, sometimes others get the things we think we need or want; however, we must come to terms with and realize that Hashem has given us all unique tools to reach our personal potentials.

Magic or G-d?

This week’s parsha continues discussing the korbanot- sacrifices- that Aaron brought as the newly appointed kohan gadol-high priest. After Aaron had brought the sacrifice and said birkat kohanim-the priestly blessing- Aaron was distressed because the fire of the shechina-Hashem’s Divine presence- did not consume the sacrifice.  Upon seeing that, Moshe and Aaron threw their hands up in teffilot-prayer- in order for Hashem’s presence to return to the temple. After their intense prayers, Hashem’s fire descended and the sacrifice was accepted.

What was the sense of Hashem delaying the acceptance of the sacrifice?

Hashem wanted Bnai Israel to see that His presence cannot be evoked merely by ‘magical rituals,’ but rather, through personal teffilot-prayers- which act as a supplement to their sacrificial rituals. This should be an example for us today, even though we don’t have a temple to make sacrifices, we can still evoke Hashem’s presence into our own lives through the power of our teffilot-prayers. By evoking the spiritual fire within, we will evoke Hashem’s presence with our own.