Please enjoy this week's Dvar... _______________________________________________ After two of Aaron’s sons die in this week’s Parsha, Shemini, G-d speaks directly to Aaron to warn him to “drink no wine or intoxicant, you or your children, when you enter the Ohel Moed, so that you will not die. This is a law for all time” (10:8-9). One can infer that Nadav and Avihu, Aaron’s deceased sons, were drunk while performing their service, even though that was never stated explicitly. What did they do wrong, especially if G-d had never warned them about intoxication before? Rabbi Riskin explains that Nadav and Avihu were holy people that had achieved great spiritual heights, but failed to distinguish between what G-d wanted and what they wanted to do for G-d, a lack of distinction that intoxication can contribute to. Taking this thought further, since this is a warning “for all generations” and “for you and your children”, it can also be that this is an overall warning not to confuse what people want with what we want for people. Respecting boundaries is a key component of any relationship, engendering trust and growth in those we love most. Shlomo Ressler _______________________________________________ Quotation of the week: “Walls keep everybody out. Boundaries teach people where the door is." - Mark Groves