Parashat Shemini
By Rabbi Shari Shamah, Jewish Life Specialist

In various situations in life we ask, is there more to the story? Sometimes, when we hear about something, it does not make sense and it feels like there are missing details. When it comes to “alien fire” in Parashat Shemini, this must be the case. This Torah portion opens with descriptions of different offerings for particular situations. There are mentions of the sacrifice of animals and grains as offerings of purification, burnt, and well-being. Then, Aaron’s sons, Nadab and Abihu, made their own type of offering. While the rest were pleasing to God, theirs didn’t quite pass muster. They each put fire in their pans and offered “alien fire.”  Fire blazed forth from God, consumed them, and they died (Leviticus 10:1-2). Huh? What was wrong with the way they did it? What was their alien fire? Why did God take their lives? The commentators try to explain it by positing such theories as their alien fire showed a lack of faith in God by not recognizing that God didn’t need help in this instance, egotism because they tried to do it all on their own without asking for assistance from Aaron, their high priest father, and even hinting that they entered the sanctuary drunk.

After they die, the text reads, “And Aaron was silent.” (Leviticus 10:3) The fact that the Torah includes the description of his silence is interesting. Generally, if someone doesn’t speak, the moment passes. Here it’s called out. What does this teach us?  Was he too devastated or stunned to speak? Did he know that they did something wrong? Was he afraid of what he might say to God if he spoke? Just as with the alien fire, we don’t know what happened. Aaron’s silence is powerful and allows us to dig deeper for our own lessons and meaning from the text.[1] As our tradition teaches, “A time for silence and a time for speaking” (Ecclesiastes 3:7).

In your life, what would make for a good offering to God?
What role can silence play in situations where we don’t have all
the answers?
What are situations that require speaking out, and what are those where silence is more effective? 

[1] Commentary on Aaron’s silence and the alien fire gleaned from Etz Hayim: Torah and Commentary. Rabbinical Assembly. Published by Jewish Publication Society.