Dvar Torah - Parashat Shemini: When Words Fail Us.

By Rabbis for Human Rights on July 8, 2007 - כ"ב תמוז תשס"ז

“Vayidom Aharon” … And Aharon was silent.

Aharon, the High Priest was a man who loved and pursued peace, according to rabbinic tradition, a man who knew the power of words and used them wisely and skillfully to resolve conflicts. He was much-loved by the people for these qualities of his and brought many souls closer to Torah as a consequence. But here in this week`s Torah reading, when faced with personal tragedy, with the untimely and incomprehensible death of his two sons, Nadav and Abihu, he remains wordless. There was nothing he could say that could express his anguish.

It was his brother, Moshe, who quickly found words, but whose words were met with Aharon’s silence:

“This is what God meant when he said:

Through those close to me I show Myself holy,

And gain glory before all the people”

Moshe said.

Aharon did not respond. He could not or would not.

Faced with the anguish of our fellow human beings in situations of tragedy, which are all too common in this region, we are sometimes too quick with words of comfort, with explanations, slogans or banal clichés, too concerned with our need to say something, in order to escape consciousness or confrontation with the reality before us.

Perhaps Moshe was wrong to speak as he did. Perhaps he felt a compulsion to fill the void fast, too fast.

Sometimes the best response is not verbal. The silent presence and witness of another, the willingness to listen well and be there for the other person in pain is often worth more than words.

Appropriate action, comfort and healing will follow if allowed to, with time.

I believe this is true regarding all suffering: personal, family, community, national, international.

Shabbat Shalom

Rabbis for Human Rights recommends that you read these articles in Shemini

Dvar Torah - Parashat Shemini: When Words Fail Us. - July 8th, 2007
Shemini: Partners with God - April 21st, 2006
Shemini: Quench this strange fire and return to the fire commanded by God - April 1st, 2005

Categories: Shemini
Tags: human rights, order, palestinians, peace, settlers