The Fire this Time
By Rabbi David Polsky

We read this week about God killing Nadav and Avihu, Aaron’s sons, after they bring an illicit fire before God. Many commentators strive to explain why Nadav and Avihu are punished so severely. Professor Yeshayahu Leibowitz offers an explanation that leads us to reflect on how we evaluate our relationship with God. He points to Leviticus 10:1, which states that they brought a fire before God “that He did not command.” The verse suggests that they were punished not because of anything wrong with the fire itself, but rather specifically because God did not command it. Their punishment illustrates the danger of excessively focusing on our personal satisfaction when worshiping God rather than our observance of His commands. Observing the mitzvoth in the service of God might not always feel like fun, but it is the essence of true faith.