B"H
Thursday, Nissan 27, 5779 / May 2, 2019 (12th day of the Omer)
The Torah reading this Shabbat in the Diaspora is Acharei Mot, which mean, “after the death.”
The Parsha begins, “G-d spoke to Moshe after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they approached before G-d and they died.” G-d tells Aaron, not to enter the holy of holies, only one day a year, on the day of Yom Kippur, to perform the service of Yom Kippur. No other time was anyone allowed to enter there.
Then the Torah details what the service on Yom Kippur shall be. Only one day a year, on the day of Yom Kippur, did only the High Priest enter the holiest of holy, to perform a special service.
We are all still feeling the shock and pain of the tragic untimely death of Lori Kaye (Leah bat Reuven) at Chabad of Poway. The bullet which took Lori’s life had a ripple effect throughout the world piercing every Jewish and every decent person’s heart.
Just as Aaron’s two son’s lives were taken when they “approached before G-d,” in the holies of holy, so too, the Neshama-soul of Leah bat Reuven (Lori Kaye) was taken as she was in synagogue, as she was getting ready to recite the Yizkor prayer, which we recite for our loving relatives who have passed away. A synagogue is called, “Mikdash Me’at” – an extension of the Holy Temple. Like the two children of Aaron who passed away while in the holy sanctuary, so too, Leah bat Reuven’s life was taken in her holy sanctuary in Poway.
The Torah tells us that when Aaron lost his two sons, Moshe said to him, “My brother Aaron, I always thought that G-d would sanctify His Holy name through you or me. But now I see that your two sons are greater than me and you, for G-d chose them to be the one’s to sanctify His name.”
The fact that the service of the day of Yom Kippur is prefaced by the story of the passing of the two sons of Aaron, teaches us that there is a connection between them. Just as the day of Yom Kippur brings forgiveness, so too, the passing of the righteous brings forgiveness to our people.
As mentioned yesterday, one of the verses in this Parsha is: “You shall observe My statutes and My laws, which man should do and live in them. I am G-d.”
From the words, “which man should do and live in them,”our sages learned that when there is a question of life and death, life takes precedence over all the mitzvot (except three). One is required to transgress the mitzvah and do everything in their power to save one’s life. LIFE takes precedence. According to Torah the greatest mitzvah is Life.
May G-d bless, protect and shield our people from all those who are looking to harm us. We should fill our synagogues to capacity this Shabbat in memory of Leah bat Reuven (Lori Kaye), may her memory be a blessing to all. Amen.
HAVE A WONDERFUL, HAPPY, HEALTHY & SUCCESSFUL DAY & SHABBAT SHALOM