1. Our Torah portion deals with the duties of the priests; their
responsibility in the Temple and community.
2. The text begins with “And it happened-vayehi (Lev.9:1).”
The Midrash comments: “Everything created in the six days of creation needs
further treatment.” (Lev. R. 11/7). In other words, by our contributions, we
need to improve the world and society.
3. Aaron’s two sons offered a “strange fire” on the altar, and they
were killed by God (Lev. 10:1-3). The message: do not go for the fanatics who
claim that only their passionate approach to religion is the correct one. Rabbi
Shlomo Riskin (Orthodox from NY) states, “A passionate religion that is not
guided by the yoke of reason is a dangerous religion.”
4. Aaron, the High Priest, begins his duties when God tells him:
“make expiation (kapper) for yourself and for the people” (Lev.9:7). The
meaning of kapper is uncertain. Maybe, it is related to the Akkadian kuppuru,
to wash away. “Expiation” means to remove sin from God’s sight. Rabbi Plaut
adds: “Until Aaron himself had been purified from guilt, he could not intercede
for the people’ (URJ, Torah Com. p.707). In other words, before you criticize
others, clean your act first.
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