{"id":52355,"date":"2019-03-28T10:39:47","date_gmt":"2019-03-28T08:39:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/?p=52355"},"modified":"2022-06-21T11:16:13","modified_gmt":"2022-06-21T08:16:13","slug":"creating-space-for-aaron-and-his-silence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/creating-space-for-aaron-and-his-silence\/","title":{"rendered":"Creating Space For Aaron And His Silence"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"entry-content\"><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[281],"tags":[383,484],"acf":{"old_id":"52355","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":36663,"related_cahpter":"1037","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content":{"description":"To respond to mourning with acceptance and sensitivity","content":"<p>In this week\u2019s portion, Aaron is faced with the tragedy of the sudden death of his two sons, Nadav and Avihu. Though interpreters find many reasons for the deaths \u2013 idolatry, alcoholism, thinking themselves too good to marry \u2013 all the text tells us is that Nadav and Avihu offered \u201cstrange fire\u201d (Leviticus 10:1) to God. Other times when someone is struck down in the Torah, a reason is given, such as in Genesis 38:7 we are told \u201cEr was wicked in the sight of the Lord and the Lord slew him.\u201d If the rationale for their deaths is not overtly stated, that must be part of the design of the text.<\/p>\n<p>Without knowing what the reason for the deaths is, all we can focus on is the reaction. Moses tries to provide some kind of justification or understanding for the inexplicable by saying \u201cthrough those near me I show myself holy and gain glory before all the people\u201d (Lev 10:3), but \u201cAaron was silent.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>We learn much from Aaron\u2019s reaction here. Even today, at a house of shiva, those who visit are supposed to just make the mourner is aware of their presence and wait for cues from the mourner as to whether to speak or not. Aaron chose silence as his reaction; there are no words at times like this and no one should expect that their words will comfort another or that the mourner will speak if she or he does not wish to. Aaron\u2019s silence creates room for the range of emotions he is feeling in response to the tragedy of the loss of his children. The mourner feels a loss of control over the desolation of grief; allowing the mourner to decide how to react \u2013 silence or speech, withdrawal or engagement \u2013 is part of enabling the mourner to control at least this one small aspect of his or her life.<\/p>\n<p>Later on in this chapter Moses inquires as to why the \u201cremaining sons\u201d (Lev 10:16) of Aaron don\u2019t eat the goat of the sin offering in a holy place. Aaron responds \u201cand such things have happened to me! Had I eaten a sin offering today would it have been good in the eyes of the Lord?\u201d (Lev 10:19).<\/p>\n<p>The beauty of the Torah here is that Aaron does not allow his younger brother to legislate his behavior or his feelings while he is in mourning. It is very important to acknowledge and validate all the emotions \u2013 whatever they may be \u2013 of those who are grieving. Moses does respond by accepting Aaron\u2019s reaction, \u201cand when he heard this, it was good in his eyes\u201d (Lev 10:20). Let us hope that we too can respond to those mourning tragedy with appropriate sensitivity.<\/p>\n<p>image by: Michal Ben Hamu<\/p>\n","image":{"ID":105881,"id":105881,"title":"-62b17e24c84b8--62b17e24c84balev9-michal ben hamu aaron mourning.jpg","filename":"62b17e24c84b8-62b17e24c84balev9-michal-ben-hamu-aaron-mourning.jpg.jpg","filesize":0,"url":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2019\/03\/62b17e24c84b8-62b17e24c84balev9-michal-ben-hamu-aaron-mourning.jpg.jpg","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/creating-space-for-aaron-and-his-silence\/62b17e24c84b8-62b17e24c84balev9-michal-ben-hamu-aaron-mourning-jpg\/","alt":"","author":"7","description":"","caption":"","name":"62b17e24c84b8-62b17e24c84balev9-michal-ben-hamu-aaron-mourning-jpg","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":52355,"date":"2022-06-21 08:15:32","modified":"2022-06-22 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