the Den's Mindfulness + Meditation Circle Transitioning Energetic States Parashat Shemini

(ב) וַתֵּ֥צֵא אֵ֛שׁ מִלִּפְנֵ֥י ה׳ וַתֹּ֣אכַל אוֹתָ֑ם וַיָּמֻ֖תוּ לִפְנֵ֥י ה׳׃

(2) And fire came forth from ה׳ and consumed them; thus they died at the instance of*at the instance of Others “before.” ה׳.

רש"י על ויקרא י׳:ב׳

(א)ותצא אש. רַ' אֱלִיעֶזֶר אוֹמֵר לֹא מֵתוּ בְנֵי אַהֲרֹן אֶלָּא עַל יְדֵי שֶׁהוֹרוּ הֲלָכָה בִּפְנֵי מֹשֶׁה רַבָּן, רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל אוֹמֵר שְׁתוּיֵי יַיִן נִכְנְסוּ לַמִּקְדָּשׁ, תֵּדַע, שֶׁאַחַר מִיתָתָן הִזְהִיר הַנּוֹתָרִים שֶׁלֹּא יִכָּנְסוּ שְׁתוּיֵי יַיִן לַמִּקְדָּשׁ, מָשָׁל לְמֶלֶךְ שֶׁהָיָה לוֹ בֶן בַּיִת וְכוּ', כִּדְאִיתָא בְּוַיִּקְרָא רַבָּה:

Rashi on Leviticus 10:2

(1) ותצא אש AND THERE WENT OUT FIRE — Rabbi Eleizer said: the sons of Aaron died only because they gave decisions on religious matters in the presence of their teacher, Moses (Sifra, Shemini, Mechilta d'Miluim 2 32; Eruvin 63a). Rabbi Ishmael said: they died because they entered the Sanctuary intoxicated by wine. You may know that this is so, because after their death he admonished those who survived that they should not enter when intoxicated by wine (vv. 8—9). A parable! It may be compared to a king who had a bosom friend, etc., as is to be found in Leviticus Rabbah 12:1, 4 (cf. Biur).

תהילים ק״נ:ו׳

(ו) כֹּ֣ל הַ֭נְּשָׁמָה תְּהַלֵּ֥ל יָ֗הּ הַֽלְלוּ־יָֽהּ׃

Psalms 150:6

(6) Let all that breathes praise the LORD.
Hallelujah.

Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev (Ukraine: 1740–1809)
A Hasidic master and Jewish leader, also known as the holy Berdichever and the Kedushat Levi

He starts from Kol Haneshama tehalel yah. Levi Yitzhak asks us to recognize that every day we are a new creation. The Psalmist says, "Kol haneshama tehallel Yah" -- "Every living thing praises God" (Psalms 150:6). And the Midrash makes a tiny twist, yielding "Kol haneshima"-- "With every breath one praises God." Al kol neshima v’neshima – as the breath is constantly trying to leave us (release). But God keeps returning it to us. When this happens, we’re a great being. When this happens we have a great connection/joy/gratitude in serving God.

God breathes new life into us at each moment. Were it not for the loving vitality of the Divine, we would not survive from moment to moment. Each breath, each moment of life, is a new blessing, a new creation. And if we consider this, then we see that each moment is a new opportunity, a new beginning, in fact, a new lifetime. Entering each moment in this way, we may see clearly what is ours to do: to deepen love, to heal a soul, to save a life, to make a difference, to change the world.