There are some people that know the Torah memorized. These individuals know where each verse begins and ends, and are aware of each and every trope. But even these individuals read the Torah portion every week, even though they know it completely; chapter and verse so to speak …
Our tradition suggests that when we read the parashat hashavua, the weekly Torah portion, the circumstances of our lives are reflected back at us through the specific lens of the Torah portion. This is why we read the Torah portion week after week, and repeat the cycle every year, regardless of how well we know the Five Books of Moses.
Ever since learning this, I’ve found it to be true with the circumstances of my life, and perhaps you think so also. I believe this to be true for each single Torah portion, but it is particularly resonant for me on this Shabbat.
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At the beginning of this portion, Aaron’s two sons (Nadiv & Avihu) have just died, and that is the context for the name of the Torah portion, Achrei Mot, which means, ‘after death.’
We might think that the Torah explains in great detail the funeral and Aaron’s subsequent mourning. But it does not. After just a few verses, our portion continues on with the rites and rituals of the Levites. As an aside, you may find it interesting to know that this portion the source for many of our atoning rituals that we perform on Yom Kippur.
In some ways, it’s disturbing, perhaps even painful, that the portion does not acknowledge Aaron’s pain and grief. And that is a valid conversation topic, and a sermon for another time. But tonight I want to talk about what happens Acherei Mot, after death.
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This week, we observed two Israeli holidays that occur in quick succession. Within 48 hours, we commemorated the day of mourning of Israel’s Day of Remembrance, Yom HaZikaron, and followed immediately with the celebratory vigor of Yom Ha’atzmaut, Israel’s Day of Independence. We mourn the many thousands of Israelites who have been killed because of hatred, and then we celebrate the fact that we have Israel, our homeland. If you have been in Israel during these holidays, you may have experienced the quick whiplash of emotions that reverberate throughout the country in this short time span. It is remarkable.
We Jews understand that Acherei Mot, after death, comes life. We learned this lesson after escaping slavery in Egypt and then entering the promised land. Aaron learned it in this Torah portion when he had to continue his leadership of the Israelite community after tragically losing his two sons. Jews continue to understand this lesson in a post-Holocaust world, when we refuse to forget the memory of six million Jews that were slain, and when we strengthen our resolve and helped create the state of Israel.
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Many psychologists have studied our Jewish mourning rituals, and it is generally agreed upon that the Jewish proscriptions for There’s a reason why shiva lasts for at most seven days. Because after that, even though we are still sad, even though there might be a giant hole in our lives, it is still time to get back to our normal routine. Acherei Mot … after death, comes life.
The Israeli national anthem is HaTikvah, ‘The Hope.’ It is my hope that we forever keep the memory of those Israeli soldiers and citizens who have died in service of our homeland. And it is also my hope that we heed the lessons that we have learned throughout history, that after death, we turn to life. Shabbat Shalom.
