“And Nadav and Avihu, sons of Aaron, each took his fire pan and put fire and incense upon them, and offered strange fire before God, which God had not commanded them. And a fire issued forth from before God and devoured them, and they died before God.” –Leviticus 10:1-2
Why did Nadav and Avihu meet such an ignoble end? Though some commentators assume their fiery demise represented Divine punishment, a close reading of these verses indicates otherwise.
Note that the text does not read in the active, “God sent forth a fire…” but rather in the passive: “a fire issued forth from before God…” This seems to indicate that the consuming fire was a kind of involuntary cosmic reflex - an inevitable consequence triggered by Nadav and Avihu’s failure to properly follow their “Priestly Instruction Manual.” In this regard, perhaps the most basic lesson of Parashat Shemini might be simply: “When you play with fire, you get burned.”
On a deeper level, however, this troubling episode has something important to teach us about the high stakes of spiritual leadership. As priests, Nadav and Avihu ministered in the Tabernacle - a place that was seen to be the central locus of Divine power. Thus they are cautioned repeatedly in the Torah to handle this system with appropriate care: to wear the proper clothes, to handle the sacrifices in a certain way, and especially, to use the “commanded” fire - the fire from the eternally lit altar in the Tabernacle.
It is also important to note that the altar was not simply the place upon which animal sacrifices were offered - it also served as a place of sanctuary for those fleeing from unjust punishment or harm (see Exodus 21:14). By introducing strange or alien fire into the altar, it might be said that Nadav and Avihu were abusing the safety and protection of this sacred space. In so doing, they demonstrated a notable disrespect for the latent power that is necessarily part of their job as priests.
Though the institution of the Israelite priesthood no longer exists, the model of spiritual leadership represented by Aaron and his sons is still powerfully relevant to us today. Like the ancient priests, our spiritual leaders are vouchsafed a great deal of power over those they serve - and like Nadav and Avihu, they abuse this power at their peril. Fundamentalist Imams who exhort their followers to commit suicide bombings or charismatic cult leaders such Jim Jones are perhaps the most extreme examples of this phenomenon. Closer to home, our increasing awareness of clerical sexual abuse testifies to the profoundly tragic consequences when spiritual leaders misuse the power that invariably comes with their roles.
Naomi Tucker, Co-founder and Executive Director of “Shalom Bayit” (Bay Area Jewish Women Working to End Domestic Violence) has written:
A good leader knows how to use power for a positive purpose. Power is a tool for creating change. But power over another person, group, or nation, is another story - it can become the root of oppression and harm to others…
As a community, it is time we demand accountability of our leaders. Courageous victims are breaking their long-held silence on sexual abuse from rabbis and other public figures. We can no longer pretend that our “beloved leaders” are immune from misusing their power to harm others. (Sh’ma Magazine, December 2006)
Postscript: valuable information and resources for survivors of clergy abuse can be found at Faith Trust Institute, an international, multifaith organization working to end sexual and domestic violence, and JSafe: a Jewish Institute Supporting an Abuse-Free Environment.