Sh’mini 5786
Dear Beth Shir Shalom,
The time between Purim and Pesach has brought a profound sense of uncertainty to world Jewry. We find ourselves grappling with the consequences of war with Iran, watching from afar as our Israeli family host seders in bomb shelters, and trying to navigate daily life where our precious moments of quiet feel restless. This past month has brought deep moral concern that has left me with far more questions than answers.
In this week’s Torah portion, Shmini, we encounter a painful moment that also inspires more questions than answers. After the long, arduous work of building the Tabernacle, a moment of celebration is instantly shattered by the sudden death of Aaron’s sons. They excitedly try to partake in sacrificial offerings, but do so improperly, and fire from God consumes them in an instant. The Torah records Aaron’s reaction in two haunting words: vayidom Aharon, "And Aaron was silent." This is not the silence of peace or the quiet of a restful shabbos afternoon; it is the silence of a person turned to stone, standing frozen in the wreckage of a world that no longer makes sense.
As we look at the world today, I know many of us are feeling the weight of having more questions than answers. Like Aaron, we often find ourselves with a weight that keeps us silent, not knowing what to say or how to relate to a frenetic world. And yet, as it does every week, Shabbat comes with opportunity for us.
While the world stays loud and the questions persist, Shabbat invites us into a different kind of quiet. Not the silence of shock, not the stillness of being overwhelmed, but the kind that softens the edges and slows us down enough to breathe. For one day, we can set down the need to solve everything, to explain everything, to make sense of everything, and instead just be with each other. In that space, something shifts. The silence is no longer isolating, it becomes connective. We kindle light, share meals, and remember we belong to one another. Even in a world that feels uncertain, there is still a path forward, one we will find together.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Alex