Setting Boundaries

Sh’mini
Leviticus 9:1-11:47

Précis: On the final day of the ordination ceremony Moses instructs Aaron and his sons on the proper rituals. Aaron makes his offering. Aaron’s sons Nadav and Abihu offer “strange” or ”alien” fire before God. They are slain. Moses tells Aaron that he must not engage in the normal mourning rituals. The Priests are prohibited from drinking alcohol while they are engaged in their sacred duties. Next, God tells Moses and Aaron to instruct the people about the animals they are permitted to eat ( part of the laws of kashrut). A general warning to guard against defilement and to be concerned about ritual purity is given.

Leviticus 10:1-2 “And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer, and put fire in them, and laid incense on them, and offered strange fire before Adonai, which He had not commanded them. And there came forth fire from before Adonai, and devoured them…”

          The deaths of Nadab and Abihu described here occur in a parasha which also instructs us on various laws of kashrut. Is there a connection?
          First, the parasha starts by describing animals used for Temple sacrifices, and we learn that not every animal is appropriate for that function. With Nadab and Abihu, we see that not all fire in the Temple is holy. Priests are told that they may not drink alcohol, so we learn there is a time and place for imbibing. Aaron is kept from mourning, so we learn that there is a time for mourning.
          These things occur just before we read laws relating to kashrut. Kashrut is all about boundaries – what is permitted, what is prohibited. Apparently, Nadab and Abihu transgressed by ignoring boundaries. Judaism, like kashrut, is all about boundaries. We voluntarily accept these boundaries (limitations on our behavior) as part of the Covenant relationship. Sometimes we understand the need for the boundaries, and sometimes we don’t. Some are obvious (don’t steal, don’t murder, honor your parents), and some are mysterious (don’t mix wool and linen, don’t eat meat and milk together). Our concept of holiness, kedushah, is based on the idea of differences and boundaries. The word “kedushah” comes from a root meaning to keep separate. By living within the boundaries set out in Vayikra, we aim for its repeated refrain: “be holy because I, your God, am holy.”
         Setting boundaries and living by them is one of the great challenges we face as Jews, as parents, as spouses, friends, congregants, and professionally. I find the text here is a powerful reminder of the importance of such boundaries.
          Shabbat Shalom