Acharei Mos 2022
Isaac’s Parsha Corner · 2022
A Death in the Family
“And God spoke to Moshe after the death of Aaron’s two sons who had come close to God and died.” (Lev 16:1)
“Tell Aaron not to do as they did [entering the Holy of Holies with strange fire]; instead, enter the Holy of Holies only with THIS; meaning, with the entire service as described.” - Rashi (ibid.), paraphrased.
After the entire service is described, the Torah commands an annual observance to all of Israel:
“And it shall be for you a regular service. On the seventh month (Tishrei) on the tenth day of the month you shall afflict your souls and refrain from work including all members of your community.” (Ibid. :29) From here we learn that Yom Kippur must be observed (i.e., fasting and refraining from work) whether or not the Temple in Jerusalem stands.
The Torah then summarizes the commandment to the Kohen Gadol in perpetuity: “And THIS shall be for you a regular service to atone the Children of Israel from all their sins once a year. (Ibid. :34) Entry into the Holy of Holies is allowed only for THIS, that being on Yom Kippur.
In the same verse we learn that “And he (Aaron) did what God had commanded to Moshe.” (Ibid.) Rashi and the Rashbam both interpret this pasuk as referring to the next Yom Kippur, saying that Aaron waited until the next tenth of Tishrei to enter the Holy of Holies. According to the Ramban, it means that Aaron was careful not to enter the Holy of Holies other than on Yom Kippur.
The simple reading of this pasuk suggests that Aaron performed the service right then and there. The Midrash Rabbah explains that the “Atonement Service” was performed whenever Aaron deemed it necessary. Following the death of his two sons, it made perfect sense for Aaron immediately to embark on an atonement service to cleanse himself and his people from the sin of the Golden Calf. In that way, he found atonement and possibly some small feeling of comfort. The pasuk actually hints at this by saying “With THIS shall he come close to the Holy with a bull for a sin offering.” Although Rashi says that “this” refers to the entire service, it is instructive that the bull is mentioned first. The bull could symbolize the atonement for its child, the calf (similar to the Red Heifer).
Alternatively, it is possible to interpret the timing of the instruction regarding the Yom Kippur service not as a personal message to Aaron, but as a wider inspiration for all of Israel. Perhaps these laws were transmitted after the consecration ceremony of the Mishkan to indicate that they served to consummate the ceremony. The service, performed annually, would renew the original holiness and the unique exultation experienced when the glory of God appeared before all of the people (Lev. 9:33-34). As the pasuk here says, “And he will atone the Holy of Holies and the Tent of Meeting and the Altar and for all the Kohanim and the nation shall he atone.” (Ibid. 33)
May we experience such holiness again, and in our days.
Dedicated to the memory of Joel Shulman A’H.