Shabbat Kodesh Parashat Shemini / Shabbat Hachodesh
We will read this week:
וַיָּבֹ֨א מֹשֶׁ֤ה וְאַהֲרֹן֙ אֶל־אֹ֣הֶל מוֹעֵ֔ד וַיֵּ֣צְא֔וּ וַֽיְבָרְכ֖וּ אֶת־הָעָ֑ם וַיֵּרָ֥א כְבוֹד־יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶל־כׇּל־הָעָֽם׃
“Moses and Aaron then went inside the Tent of Meeting. When they came out, they blessed the people; and the Presence of G’d appeared to all the people.”
The translation fails to recognise a very interesting point in the Hebrew original. Moshe and Aharon came into the tent. The Hebrew version says ויבוא, -in singular, which would mean that only one person came. However the verse carries on to say ויצאו, ויברכו -in plural, correctly stating that both Moshe and Aharon came out and blessed the gathered people.
Perhaps this is to teach us that the power Moshe and Aharon had, enabling them to bless, came as a result of both of them going into the Mishkan united in their hearts and minds – as indicated by the reference to them in singular terms.
In stark contrast, the following verse which deals with the tragedy of Nadav and Avihu, starts:
וַוַיִּקְח֣וּ בְנֵֽי־אַ֠הֲרֹן נָדָ֨ב וַאֲבִיה֜וּא אִ֣ישׁ מַחְתָּת֗וֹ וַיִּתְּנ֤וּ בָהֵן֙ אֵ֔שׁ וַיָּשִׂ֥ימוּ עָלֶ֖יהָ קְטֹ֑רֶת וַיַּקְרִ֜בוּ לִפְנֵ֤י יְהוָה֙ אֵ֣שׁ זָרָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֧ר לֹ֦א צִוָּ֖ה אֹתָֽם׃
“Now Aaron’s sons Nadav and Avihu each took his fire pan, put fire in it, and laid incense on it; and they offered before the LORD alien fire, which He had not enjoined upon them.”
Perhaps an indication that their fatal mistake starts by each of them “taking his own pan”. An indication for being much less in unity than their father, Aharon with his brother, Moshe Rabeinu. This marked difference teaches us how much trouble can be averted, and how much more can be achieved by going together than by walking alone
Shabbat Shalom, best wishes and Chodesh Nissan tov
Rabbi Chaim Michael Biberfeld