Rabbi Wilfond’s weekly message April 5th, 2024

Communication is essential

In this week’s Torah portion there is a tragic work place accident. It has fatal results. Two sons of Aaron, Nadav and Avihu, are young and not very experienced. In the midst of performing their duties they offer a “Strange Fire” on the altar. Instantly a blaze breaks out and they are killed.  The way they die is like something out of “Star Trek” or a science fiction film.  Their bodies are vaporized, they disappear, while their clothes, unsinged, lie in an empty heap on the floor.  This is one of the Torah’s strangest narratives.  

A classic Jewish collection of legends, the Sifra, ask “Why did this happen?”  The Sifra offers “The mistake of sons is that they did not consult Moses, they did not consult Aaron, and they did not consult each other.”  There is a breakdown in communication and it results in people getting hurt.  The Rabbis use this story as an opportunity to teach about the necessity of open communication and collaboration to establish procedures and practices that keep people safe.  

In the Torah, when there is not open communication and partnership people get hurt.  So too today. This week something went horribly wrong in communication and partnership between the Israel Defense Forces and the Food Relief Workers of the Word Central Kitchen, who had coordinated with the IDF their food deliveries.  Something broke down in the communication between the Israeli forces resulting in the food convoy being bombed.  Among the seven food relief workers killed was an American Jacob Flickinger, 33, who leaves behind his wife Sandy and their 18-month-old son, John.    Israel Prime Minister Netanyahu expressed regret and released a statement saying this was “A tragic case of our forces unintentionally hitting innocent people. It happens in war.”

In ancient times and today we see the need for open communication to set up procedures that keep people safe. There is much listening and discussing that needs to be done in sincerity to achieve Tikkun Olam, repairing the world, near and far.

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi David Wilfond