4 April 2024 · A sentence from the teachings of Rav Kook

Parashat Shemini

„Those who behave this way think they are drawing near to the holy; they unify from afar, they offer up even strange fire, and they come to the holy drunk with wine, without the awe of Heaven.”From Orot HaKodesh III:360

In this week's portion we read of the sin of Nadav and Avihu, the sons of Aaron the Priest, who died when they offered strange fire before the Lord. Rav Kook explains that their sin came from an intense desire to draw near, but without a foundation and without the divine command. The human impulse is liable to unsettle us both from the desire to flee from the Holy One and from the desire to draw near to Him. And both require study and extra caution - caution that will prevent the service of God from turning into idolatry.

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The study is dedicated to the safekeeping and return of Nattapong Pinta (35), who was abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz.

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