Tyler’s Torah Thoughts for 2 Tamuz, 5783

Good morning! Today’s portion is very short.  And it seems to be counter to what many believe (including myself) about the Torah and the Mitzvahs.

Yesterday we watched as Korach and his family get swallowed up by the earth.  Those who used the fire pans to support Korach were burned in fire.

As you could imagine? People were freaking out.  Hashem calls Moses and Aaron to the Tent of Meeting, and that is where our portion today starts.

Hashem is basically DONE. Hashem tells Moses and Aaron he is going to destroy the congregation.

Now let’s stop here.  We have the benefit of hindsight.  Do we believe Hashem was ACTUALLY going to destroy the congregation? Or was Hashem trying to show us mercy and grace?

Moses responds – and we have to remember – Hashem exists outside of time and space, so Hashem KNEW how Moses would respond.  Moses falls on his face and gives Aaron some instructions.  And Moses tells Aaron to violate the proper offering of incense to do this.

Aaron does this without hesitation – trusting Moses to stop the plague.

An additional 14,700 Israelites died.  But many more were saved.  And we have to go back to what we believe about death and our bodies and our souls.

Death may just be the releasing of the souls back into the spiritual realm – the 14,700 Neshamas rejoining Hashem outside of our bodies.  Just something I reflect on.

My takeaway today – as is most of the time when I read the Torah – is this idea of curiosity instead of Judgment.  Looking at the world around us – looking at the Torah – with curiosity and NOT judgment is a major factor in our liberation and freedom spiritually.

What are your thoughts?

My commentary from a year ago:

Tyler’s Torah Thoughts for 30 Sivan, 5782

On our final day of the month of Sivan, it’s a good day to reflect on the month and consider the new possibilities starting tomorrow! More on the month of Tamuz tomorrow, but let’s bring to a close this past month with our Torah thoughts!

Yesterday we saw the destruction of Korah and his family- the earth opened up and swallowed them. And then; the 250 men who were with Korah when burning the fire pans? Burned by supernatural fire.

You can imagine people freaking out at this. They come to Moses and Aaron. They blamed them. Then a cloud covered the tent of meeting and Moses and Aaron approached.

Today’s portion is short. Basically, God tells Moses to get away, because he is about to destroy all of them in an instant.

Moses and Aaron fall on their faces, and Moses tells Aaron to atone for the people quickly. Moses tells Aaron God is angry and the plaque has begun. Moses knows incense can stop the plague.

Aaron took the fire pan and ran into the assembly and the plague had already started. Aaron did as Moses asked; took the fire pan ran into the assembly and placed incense on it and atoned for the people. Aaron stood between the dead and the living. And the plague stopped. 14,700 people died in the plague besides those who died because of the Korah incident.

Aaron went back to Moses at the entrance of the tent of meeting and the plague ended.

Ok. So. Some questions;

1. Why the fire pan? Rabbi Hayyim ibn Attar writes that the fire pan was used to demonstrate it wasn’t the fire pan that killed Korah and the 250. The people were scared of that. Moses had Aaron use the fire pan to show the people the pan could be used for healing.
   1. That’s kind of genius if you think about it. Had this incident not taken place, people may have had the idea that anyone touching a fire pan may have been burned by fire; and it would have prevented atonement in the future.
2. Why did Moses have Aaron use the fire pan in front of the assembly? This would have been an improper time and place to offer the sacrifice. Rabbi Hayyim also writes that Aaron did it because “Moses told him to.” Aaron shows us that we must obey and acknowledged prophet even if the command violates the Torah. Moses as the leader was crucial. Aaron knew this and established Moses as the leader.

Interesting passage today. The people saw Aaron as the person who saved them from a plague. Aaron saw Moses as the true leader. God was appeased (it seems).

What are your thoughts?