"A three-stranded cord will not quickly be broken"

 

(Ecclesiastes 4:12)

Nisan 25, 5784/AMay 3, 2024

Today is Ten Days of the Omer

Parashat Acharei Mot - "After the death of of Aharon's two sons" - takes us back to the dramatic events of the day of the dedication of the Tabernacle in the wilderness, when Nadav and Avihu, Aharon'stwo eldest sons brought an unauthorized offering to the Mishkan and were consumed by fire. The incident is mentioned now to serve as a warning to Aharon "that he should not come at all times into the Holy within the dividing curtain, in front of the cover that is upon the ark, so that he should not die, for I appear over the ark cover in a cloud."(Leviticus 16:2) The Torah then enters into a splendidly detailed description of the service performed by the Kohen Gadol (High Priest) on Yom Kippur, the one day of the year when the Kohen Gadol is, in fact, commanded to enter into the Holy of Holies to perform an incense offering while standing before the Ark of the Covenant, as described in the following verses:

"And he shall take a pan full of burning coals from upon the altar, from before HaShem, and both hands' full of fine incense, and bring it within the dividing curtain. And he shall place the incense upon the fire, before HaShem, so that the cloud of the incense shall envelope the ark cover that is over the tablets of Testimony, so that he shall not die." ((ibid 16:12-13)

This is one of the many dramatic, tension-filled moments of the Kohen Gadol's service on Yom Kippur, as the fate of the entire nation rests entirely upon the purity of his intentions and the absolute precision with which he performs every aspect of the Divinely mandated choreography of his service. Yom Kippur was, and remains to this day, a day of coming clean with HaShem, making atonement for the nation of Israel. And while today Yom Kippur also focuses on personal introspection and commitment to improvement, as well as asking forgiveness and making amends between people, the day itself and the prayer service which adheres as closely as possible to the description of the service in the Holy Temple, including a dramatic retelling of the service of the Kohen Gadol, is an intimate conversation between the children of Israel and the G-d of Israel, culminating in a loving embrace.

After concluding the description of the Yom Kippur service, Acharei Mot then goes on to emphasis that all offerings made by Israel must be brought to the Tabernacle altar, and that consuming the blood of the offering us absolutely unacceptable, and that anyone who does, nevertheless, eat the blood of an animal, will sever his relationship with HaShem. This warning is then followed by a more general warning:

"And HaShem spoke to Moshe, saying: Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: I am HaShem, your G-d. Like the practice of the land of Egypt, in which you dwelled, you shall not do, and like the practice of the land of Canaan, to which I am bringing you, you shall not do, and you shall not follow their statutes. You shall fulfill My ordinances and observe My statutes, to follow them. I am HaShem, your G-d. You shall observe My statutes and My ordinances, which a man shall do and live by them. I am HaShem." (ibid 18:1-5)

It was of supreme importance to HaShem that Israel, upon entering the land of Canaan, not be tempted into assimilating or adopting any of the corrupt practices of the Canaanite nations already residing in the land. They, like the Egyptians whom Israel had left behind, were immersed in perverse and immoral customs. This stern warning is repeated again, following the next recitation of forbidden sexual relationships, a long detailed list, which places Israel far above the detestable mores of the native nations, and guards them from becoming an abomination to HaShem.

Again, we are told: "For the people of the land who preceded you, did all of these abominations, and the land became defiled. And let the land not vomit you out for having defiled it, as it vomited out the nation that preceded you. For anyone who commits any of these abominations, the persons doing so shall be cut off from the midst of their people. And you shall observe My charge, not to commit any of the abominable practices that were done before you, and you shall not become defiled by them. I am HaShem your G-d." (ibid 18:27-30)

The land of Israel is like no other land on earth. It is charged by HaShem with an energy and a sensitivity that will not tolerate moral corruption and decadence. It was the perverse and decadent practices of the Canaanite nations which forfeited their continued existence in the land, paving the way for Israel's conquest. And the same shameful fate awaits Israel should she also sink to such unsavory practices. The land of Israel is the land upon which HaShem chooses to rest His presence and any moral obscenity performed by man imperils His presence. HaShem has tremendous patience and tolerance for Israel's foibles and not infrequent failings, but He does keep a tab. There is a certain tipping point in which Israel falls out of favor, G-d forbid, and we must never again arrive at that. Just as the blood of Abel, slain by Cain, cried out to HaShem from the earth, the land of Israel, which witnesses all we do, reports to HaShem. Our covenant with G-d, which we committed to at Sinai, is not just between Israel and HaShem, but also includes a third party, the land of Israel.

Israel is the land of milk and honey, a land blessed with "wheat and barley, vines and figs and pomegranates, a land of oil producing olives and honey," (Deuteronomy 8:8), a land of rivers and springs, valleys and mountains, iron and copper. But Israel isn't a land simply to be exploited for its rich resources. It is a land that must be loved and cared for, that must be nurtured and defended. The land of Israel is an essential, integral partner in our relationship with G-d. It is the land G-d chose for His people and for His presence to dwell upon. Woe to a people who forgets. As Kohelet son of David, king in Jerusalem wisely stated, "a three-stranded cord will not quickly be broken."(Ecclesiastes 4:12) May the people of Israel dwell in the land of Israel forever!