Shemini | Who Are "Those Who Are Close To Me"?

Shemini | Who Are "Those Who Are Close To Me"? by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom

What did Moshe mean when he said הוא אשר דבר השם בקרובי אקדש?

The dramatic and climactic narrative of the "Eighth Day" is shattered by the tragic death of Nadav and Avihu, which is followed by Moshe's words (of consolation? encouragement?) to Aharon and then by the Divine command, given (for the only time) exclusively to Aharon, regarding the ban on entering the Mishkan while inebriated. The narrative then continues with the details of Aharon and his surviving sons and their continuing the special worship of the day. Moshe's words to Aharon are, however, a bit unclear - is he consoling him over the death of his sons or is there an even grander statement being made? We explore the statement through the eyes of the Sifra and Rashi, but then see a distinctly different approach suggested by Rashbam and R. Yosef Bekhor Shor.

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