The Art of Sacred Equilibrium

Exploring the Parashah, Haftarah, and Their Timeless Life Lesson

It was the long anticipated day, the day of the inauguration of the Mishkan, Rosh Chodesh Nissan. Moshe instructs Aharon to offer a calf for a Chatas and a ram for an Oleh. Initially, Aharon hesitated to bring the first Korban, as he felt guilt for his involvement in the Eigel HaZahav. However, Moshe encouraged Aharon by assuring him that Hashem had forgiven him and that he was the one chosen for this important task.

Aharon and his sons proceeded to bring the Korbanos as Moshe instructed. The Parashah recounts that after offering the Oleh, a fire from Hashem descended and consumed the Korban.

Nadav and Avihu, two of Aharon's sons who were known for their purity and holiness, decided to offer the Ketores. Though their intentions were pure, it went beyond Moshe's instructions. In response, a fire from Hashem once again descended, consuming them, resulting in their untimely deaths.

Why were they punished so severely, after all they were seemingly going the extra mile for Hashem?

In the Haftarah, we read another story, with a similar fate. Following the destruction of Mishkan Shiloh, the Aron was no longer in its proper home, rather it was in Givah for twenty years. When Dovid settled in Yerushalayim, he wanted to bring the Aron there. He had a special wagon built to carry the Aron, which was pulled by a pair of oxen and steered by Uzah and his brothers. This method deviated from the standard operating procedure for carrying the Aron, which is a task given to the children of Kehos and was supposed to be carried on their shoulders. Here, the responsibility was given to Uzah, a Yisroel, and the Aron was placed on a wagon. During the bumpy journey, the Aron appeared to be falling off the wagon, prompting Uzah to instinctively reach out and prevent it from falling. This angered Hashem and Uzah died on the spot.

Dovid ultimately diverted the Aron to the home of Oved Edom for three months before having it transported to Yerushalyim per the correct procedures and this was the catalyst for the eventual building of the Mikdash which came to be known as Mikdash Dovid.

The question remains: why were Nadav, Avihu, and Uzah punished for seemingly doing good and going the extra mile? We are aware of the concept of Lifnim Meshuras HaDin, where one is generously rewarded for actions that are not explicitly required by the Torah. We also know the concept of Chesed Shel Emes, where one is amply rewarded for a mitzvah that has no worldly payback. There are examples in the Tanach, such as Pinchas, who went above and beyond and received significant rewards. Why, then, do some individuals appear to be punished, while others are rewarded for seemingly similar actions?

In his book, Sefiros, my father provides insightful guidance on how to practice the avodah for each of the Sefiros as they pertain to Sefiras HaOmer. For Day 7, Malchus of Chesed, he emphasizes that Malchus represents the complete integration of Godliness into our world, and it is the ultimate goal of our spiritual journey. “All issues in this world stem from a void in Malchus, making it a critical area of focus for our spiritual development.”

To fully embrace Malchus, we must recognize the holistic nature of God's kindness and His total involvement in our lives. By doing so, we become active participants rather than mere observers. We must strive to innovate and be creative in our relationship with God, going beyond what is expected or necessary.

My father suggests various exercises to cultivate Malchus, such as pushing the limits of our Chesed, performing true Chesed with no expectation of reward, and taking bold actions like Nachshon ben Aminadav, who jumped into the sea in complete faith and trust in Hashem and Moshe. By taking risks and stepping out of our comfort zones, we can deepen our connection to Malchus and ultimately to God.

As we advance in the omer to Day 14, malchus she-be-gevurah, he writes about knowing your place, understanding when to remain silent, and exercising self-control over your emotions and desires.

Lastly, on Day 21, in malchus she-be-tiferes, he advises discovering something beautiful about God's world that you never noticed before, like Avraham did, to better appreciate God's Oneness. He also emphasizes using pleasant words, smiling, and being mindful of how your presence affects others. By taking proactive steps to make a difference in the lives of others, you can create a positive impact.

To me, this perhaps answers the question. The middah of a Kohen or someone who is involved in bringing Malchus Hashem into this world would be done with Tiferes which represents balance. It needs both kindness (Chesed) and discipline (Gevurah). Malchus she-be-tiferes reminds us of Aharon HaKohen, who always worked towards peace and had the right things to say.

Bringing Malchus into Chesed creates a sense of diving into the unknown to do what is right, but it is crucial to remember the importance of Gevurah. It is essential to ensure that our actions or inactions are guided by our intellect rather than our impulsive emotions.

In this way, we can achieve a balanced approach in our spiritual journey, reflecting the middos of both Chesed and Gevurah, and ultimately bringing Malchus Hashem into the world properly.

Perhaps this was the mistake of these great men. They undoubtedly went the extra mile, but it's possible they acted out of charged emotion, and did not think it through properly. When dealing with such delicate matters as Korbanos or the Aron HaKodesh, careful thought is essential, things cannot be done through snap emotions. Nadav, Avihu, and Uzah, despite their pure intentions, overstepped the limits of their roles and acted beyond the instructions they were given.

This concept can be applied to all aspects of life, from our Avodas Hashem to building our homes.

Decisions should be made with careful consideration and a positive attitude. We should not take on things to feel closer to Hashem from a place of emotion or guilt, but with proper hadracha and consideration. When we are able to be focused on what we are doing, our thoughts are much clearer, our interactions with others improve, and we can successfully bring true Malchus down to earth.