דרשני:(Parshat Shmini- No Words (Binyomin Freilich

Last week, the residents of Ramat Beit Shemesh were informed of the tragic petira of a young woman, wife, mother and daughter to the shock of her dear family and the entire community. Mrs Genia Brill ע"ה was beloved by all and will only be remembered for her love, care and sterling qualities.

In this week’s parsha we are told about the passing of the two sons of Aharon and his reaction to the words uttered by his brother Moshe Rabbeinu:

ויאמר משה אל אהרן הוא אשר דבר ה' לאמר בקרבי אקדש ועל פני כל העם אכבד וידם אהרן (י' ג')

Chazal, in their wisdom gave a variety of reasons for their death, aside from the words recorded in the Torah, yet, it is clear from the commentaries and the above Possuk, that these children were of great caliber and true righteous and pious people. Hashem had wanted to create a Kiddush Hashem and give over a message to Klal Yisroel about the sanctity of the Mishkan. To this end he needed to choose very spiritual and worthy souls of this holy mission. So much so, that Moshe - who knew of this plan – was uncertain whether he himself or Aharon were going to be that “korban”, and that when it became clear that it was neither of them, Moshe comforted Aharon by saying that now I know that your sons are greater/holier than us! (Rashi quoting Medrash).

We are told that Aharon reacted with total silence. Actually the Ramban writes that he first cried and then stopped crying. (In a way this makes sense, since the Gemara says that not to cry in such a situation is actually considered inappropriate).

The question asked is why does the Torah use the word וידם and not the regular וישתוק or ויחרוש?

The Chofetz Chaim answers that those words imply that Aharon would have wanted to say something. A word or two about being broken, shattered or upset in frustration.

The word וידם means you could not even tell on his facial expression any sign of questioning the Ribbonoh Shel Olam or anger towards Him. To the contrary! Aharon even attained a level of Simcha with the knowledge that his children were used for this lofty mission. Even deep in his heart, he had no complaints. Just like a speechless stone is called a דומם, symbolizing a totally inanimate object, Aharon was total in acceptance of the saddening news. As such he was deeply silent. Incidentally, it’s the same in word in English: Dumb – וידם.

The Dubno Maggid adds that Aharon saw the Divine presence hovering over their bodies, and that gave him tremendous comfort.

This, of course is an extremely high level to reach. Way beyond reach of the average individual during such a challenging time. Remember, that this was the day Klal Yisroel had been waiting for. Finally after months of building, the Mishkan would be ready to home Hashem’s presence. It was a form of forgiveness for the deep sin of the golden calf. And on this joyful day – Bang! The complete opposite happens. Death.

And not just one child but two! And not just an unknown Jew, but the very offspring of the leading Cohen Gadol – Aharon!

We cannot fathom how this must have dampened the atmosphere. Similarly, with the Petira of Mrs Genia Brill ע"ה, just before the most joyous day of the year – Purim, it must have been extremely difficult for her family and close ones.

HaRav Eliyahu Dovid Tumim, (born in ליטא 5613), known by the name of his sefer ‘The Aderes’ lost a child at young age. When the time came for the Levaya, throngs of people had come to pay their last respects, but The Aderes did not come out of his room. For two hours the crowds waited outside till he came out, recited the Bracha of ברוך דיין האמת and continued with the burial. Later, his students asked him to explain his reason for delay.

Chazal tell us, he began, that “One is obligated to bless Hashem for the bad just like he blesses Hashem for the good”. The Shulchan Aruch brings down these words and explains that when a person accepts Hashems’ decision with love, he is serving Hashem and that should bring him to rejoice.

While I was in my room, continued HaRav Eliyahu Dovid, I cast my memory back to the day of my child’s Bris. I recalled the joy that I had with the birth of this little baby, and the Simcha I had, when I recited the Bracha of שהחיינו. Then I had to take my broken and shattered soul and bring it the same level of Simcha that I had then so that I could recite the Bracha as the Halacha dictates. That took two hours”.

Getting back to Aharon, the Torah relates how Moishe Rabbeinu told Bnei Yisroel that they should all weep concerning this burning.  .וכל בית ישראל יבכו את השריפה אשר שרף השם

It seems a little strange, notes the Meshech Chochma, that at such a tragic event, people would need to be told to weep?! Surely their tears could not be stopped when they heard the news ??

He answers that Moishe Rabbeinu wanted to give over a message to the Jewish people. “Don’t think to yourselves that they have been punished for an Aveira that they committed. Their death is because of your sin of the עגל הזהב.  Don’t think that we can just bring Korbanos and all is good. Hashem wants sincere repentance from the depths of our hearts in order to fully forgiven. Therefore, every single person should weep. The stress is on the words וכל בית ישראל.

What’s interesting to note is that the word וידם occurs only in one other place in Tanach. Following Yehoshua’s command for the sun to stop moving the Torah writes וידם השמש.  The connection is explained by the Chida in his sefer נחל  קידומים.

When Hashem created the world, the purpose of the sun was to orbit the world and provide light, energy and warmth. However, there came a point in time, when Hashem wanted the sun to stop what it was good at. To stop what it enjoyed doing and was it was commanded to do. It did so with joy. So too Aharon’s silence should not be interpreted as speechless from sadness, rather he accepted the decree with joy.

The problem with this explanation is, that the Meforshim explain that Yehoshua did not tell the sun to stand still at all ?! All he said was to be silent – שמש בגבעון דום! and since Yehoshua knew that the sun’s ability to move comes from its singing to Hashem, he simply needed to tell the sun – Stop singing! Automatically that would stop the sun from moving. We see from here that when the sun is still it does not rejoice and sing. This is the opposite of what the Chida wrote above – that the sun fulfilled the will of Hashem בשמחה when it was still ?

I believe that the answer can be found in the Bracha of Kiddush Levana. ששים ושמחים לעשות רצון קונם

The luminaries rejoice in doing the will of Hashem. They rejoice as they orbit our world – because that is the will of Hashem, and they sing and rejoice when Hashem tells them to stop moving- because, again, that is the will of Hashem. 

Life goes on. Klal Yisroel need to be strong. Hashem takes pride when people put aside their own challenges and difficulties and continue to learn Torah, keep Torah and strengthen Torah, as Chazal tell us : חזו בני חביבי דמשתכחין מצערון דלהן ועסקין בחדוותא דילי -

Look how my precious children put aside their own troubles and involve themselves in my delight, the Torah.

Rav Shimon Schwab writes that the words we say every morning הנותן ליעף כח are not simply a praise to Hashem for giving the individual strength. Rather, following the previous Brachos of אוזר ישראל בגבורה  and עוטר ישראל בתפארה which are clearly referring to the Jewish people as a nation, this Bracha too, is a praise to Hashem Who gives inner strength to Klal Yisroel who are worn out from the pain of Galus and all our challenges.

Rav Eliyashiv, (based on the Maharsha מו"ק כח:) advises the ideal words to say at the beginning of a Shiva visit. Nothing. Instead of focusing on the gory details of how they died, or recalling your own personal pain when you sat Shiva, just feel and commiserate the other person’s pain.

וידם אהרן.

May the Brill family know of no more pain.

תהי זכרה ברוך