Julius Do as you’re told!
Julius Do as you’re told! Julius A great case for Torah Observant Judaism- Parshas Shemini True spirituality: Do as you’re told! By Rabbi Ozer Alport Parshas Shemini begins by discussing the inauguration of the Mishkan. The tremendous joy of this monumental event was marred by the tragic deaths of Aharon’s sons Nadav and Avihu. Although the Medrash offers numerous opinions about the nature of their sin, the Torah tells us only that they erred by bringing an offering that they were not commanded to bring (Vayikra 10:1-2). What lesson is the Torah teaching us by emphasizing this as the cause of their deaths? The Medrash relates that before giving the Torah to the Jewish people, Hashem first offered it to the other nations of the world. Each of them asked what is written in it. Hashem responded with the mitzvah that would be most difficult for that nation to observe; not surprisingly, they all declined. The Chiddushei HaRim suggests that Hashem also challenged the Jews in their weak