Parsha Corner: Parshas Shimini – An Uplfited Avodah
In this week’s parsha, we encounter a deeply painful moment: Aharon HaKohen suffers the loss of his two illustrious sons, Nadav and Avihu. While engaged in the avodah within the Mishkan, they brought a “foreign fire” — a service they had not been commanded to perform — and as a result, their lives were taken. The Torah records Aharon’s response with a profound and powerful phrase: “Vayidom Aharon” — “And Aharon was silent.” Despite the enormity of his grief, Aharon did not protest, question, or even whisper a word of complaint against Hashem. His silence reflected complete submission, humility, and unwavering acceptance of the Divine decree.
In recognition of this extraordinary display of emunah and bitachon, Hashem granted Aharon a unique reward. The Sifsei Chachamim explains that Aharon merited to be the direct recipient of a new commandment from Hashem — the prohibition for kohanim to consume wine or strong drink prior to performing the avodah in the Mishkan, a prohibition whose violation is punishable by death.
At first glance, this may strike us as puzzling. What kind of reward is this? A new issur? One might ask: “Isn’t that just another restriction — another limitation? How is this a gift?”
To understand this, I’d like to share an insight I once heard from Rav Michel Twerski. When introducing the mitzvah of parah adumah, the Torah prefaces it with the words, “Zos chukas haTorah” — “This is the statute of the Torah.” The commentators are bothered: Why does the Torah label this as the “statute of the Torah” rather than the more specific “chukas haParah”?
Rav Twerski explained that the Torah is conveying something fundamental: While parah adumah is the paradigmatic chok — a commandment beyond human understanding — in truth, all mitzvos should be approached with the same mindset. Even those mitzvos that seem rational and understandable must ultimately be observed not because they make sense to us, but because they are the will of Hashem. The essence of a mitzvah lies not in its logic, but in its Divine origin.
The more we train ourselves to embrace this perspective — to humbly accept Hashem’s will and serve Him out of reverence, not reasoning — the purer our avodah becomes. It transforms our mitzvah observance into a source of deeper joy, because it is rooted in a profound relationship with the Ribbono Shel Olam, rather than personal logic or gain.
With this understanding, we can appreciate the magnitude of Aharon’s reward. Hashem gifted him with a new commandment — another opportunity to
serve, another chance to elevate his avodah
through submission to Divine will. Far from being a burden, this was an expression of closeness, trust, and spiritual opportunity. For one on Aharon’s level, this was the highest form of reward: a pathway to greater kedusha and simcha in serving Hashem.
Have a wonderful Shabbos!
Rabbi Mordy Anton
Download the PDF -> Parsha Corner – Shimini
Parshas Shemini – An Uplifted Avodah
Rabbi Anton