2Vayomer Adonai el Moshe daber el Aharon achicha ve'al yavo bekhol et el hakodesh mibeit laparochet el pnei hakaporet asher al ha'aron velo yamut ki be'anan era'eh al hakaporet
4Ketonet bad kodesh yilbash umikhnesei vad yihyu al besaro uve'avnet bad yachgor uvemitznefet bad yitznof bigdei kodesh hem verachatz bamayim et besaro ulvesham
15Veshachat et se'ir hachatat asher la'am veheviyi et damo el mibeit laparochet ve'asah et damo ka'asher asah ledam hapar vehizah oto al hakaporet velifnei hakaporet
17Vekhol adam lo yihyeh be'ohel mo'ed bevo'o lekhaper bakodesh ad tzeto vekhiper ba'ado uve'ad beito uve'ad kol kehal Yisra'el
The parsha opens with the great drama: “Acharei mot shnei bnei Aharon” (After the death of the two sons of Aharon), Nadav and Avihu, who died in their drawing near to the Holy. From this very place, the Torah comes to teach how one does approach the Holy, the foundation of the Yom Kippur service.
Entering the Holy of Holies
“Ve’al yavo bekhol et el hakodesh” (He shall not come at all times into the Holy). One of the central commandments given here is that the High Priest cannot enter the Holy of Holies whenever he wishes, the holiest place in the world, but only on Yom Kippur, and with precise preparation.
The Order of Sacrifices
A bull for a chatat (sin offering) and a ram for an olah (burnt offering), on behalf of Aharon himself. Two goats, one for Hashem and one for Azazel. Lots determine which goes to Hashem, and which is sent to the wilderness as atonement for all of Israel.
White Garments Only
The priest does not wear the splendid gold garments, but white linen garments, an expression of humility and purity.
The Climax of the High Priest’s Service
The chatat of the bull and the goat: the blood of the offerings is sprinkled within the inner sanctum, on the kaporet. The priest burns incense on the coals, and the cloud of incense covers the Ark. No one else may be in the Tent of Meeting during the entry. The priest acts alone, on his own behalf and on behalf of the people.
An Insight for Life
There are times in life when not every moment is appropriate for drawing near. Holiness requires preparation, process, seriousness. The priest cannot enter whenever he wishes. Holiness is built from within boundaries.
Just like the entry to the Holy, so too in every relationship, in the service of Hashem, in spiritual life, one must learn when and how to draw near.
The continuation of the parsha will teach us all the details of the Yom Kippur service, the very heart of atonement and purification of the people of Israel.