d’var torah
When Was Executive Burnout
Truly Burnout?
Rabbi Barry Dov Lerner
W Parshat Shemini
hen confronted by the
unexpected and even tragic,
one of our fi rst responses is to ask
“why?” Our weekly Torah portion,
Shemini, provokes such a question.

For seven days, Israel participated
in the building of the desert sanctuary,
the Mishkan, and witnessed its dedica-
tion and the installation of the Kohanim
to serve in that hallowed structure.

Now, on the eighth day, at the pinna-
cle of their joy and celebration, as the
Torah describes it, “Aaron’s sons Nadab
and Abihu each took his fi re pan, put
coals and then incense on it, which they
off ered before the Lord; alien fi re [“esh
zara”], which He had not required of
them. And fi re came forth from the Lord
and incinerated them.” (Lev. 10:1-2)
Their deaths have perplexed Jewish
commentary for several thousand
years with the “why” question. And
for several thousand years we have
off ered a wide range of opinions.

The most frequent explanations try
to justify the divine fi re that incinerated
both brothers with a close reading of
the text for hints of their off ense. After
all, could a just God incinerate innocent
boys just admitted to their holy vocation?
Our Sages of the Talmud struggled
to identify their sin, their violation of
the Mishkan’s sanctity, its holiness, its
kedushah. In Midrash (Sifra, Shemini)
Akiva proposed that they took coals
from an unsanctifi ed source, while
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Yishmael held them responsible for
bringing the incense of their own
volition. In another source, Yishmael
suggested that they entered the
Mishkan drunk (Sifrei, Acharei Mot).

Others focused on their sin of ignor-
ing the authority of their elders, not
asking of each other whether this was
a wise choice to enter the Mishkan.

They are described by other teachers
as being impatient and unable to wait
for their turn for leadership.

And so it goes for centuries — rarely
agreement but always looking for
“why” these young men were killed by
sacred fi re.

But the question is reinforced by our
Haftarah (2 Sam. 6) retelling of another
strange death apparently at the hand
of God. Uzzah was escorting the Ark
of God to Jerusalem when the oxen
stumbled. He reached out with his
hand to steady the Ark. As the TaNaKh
describes, “The Lord’s anger burned
against Uzzah because of his irrev-
erent act; therefore God struck him
down, and he died there beside the
ark of God.” ( 2 Sam. 6:7)
Again, “Why?” Where was Uzzah’s
failure? He reacted as we might expect
for someone sensing danger to the Ark.

In both cases, of Nadav and Avihu
and also Uzza, they violated clear and
repeated protocols. Everyone, from the
least important Jew to the highest rank
of Jewish stewardship, came too close
to the central shrine and contacted
God’s holiness/kedushah.

However, are violations of those
Torah instructions so grave that death
is the appropriate punishment?
Firstly, the rule is that there are rules.

We are reminded graphically that not
even the Kohen Gadol and his family are
exempt from punishment. As the Torah
teaches, “One law for everyone in the
community.” (Num. 15:16) This means for
all of Israel that no one is above the law.

A modern suggestion compared both
occasions to the regulations of the U.S.

Nuclear Regulatory Commission, which
proscribes detailed guidelines and
redundant rules for transporting radio-
active materials through our states and
cities. The NRC is much more OCD
when we compare it to apparent popular
nonchalance about laws, rules or sharing
misinformation about, e.g., pandemics or
politics. I, for one, am grateful for the
more pedantic handling codes for pluto-
nium in our neighborhoods than the
Torah laid out for Israel concerning the
Ark and the Mishkan.

In fact, don’t we concern ourselves
about our leaders today? Don’t we
worry about their too-frequent burnout?
Each generation understands the inher-
ent danger to the soul of our leaders
and subsequently to the community in
their own time and history.

A second general principle derived
from these two Biblical tragedies is the
importance of balancing creativity and
tradition in all things — and especially
in religion. We know of the danger of
religious fanaticism and the pitfalls of
religious stagnation. Similarly, we can
suff er if there is either willful blind obedi-
ence or even stagnation of our faith.

There is as much potential for self-im-
posed harm in an impetuous revision of
Judaism as well as it would be a failure
to apply our evolving religious values in a
rapidly changing world and technologies.

Judaism is a faith of tradition
and change — a balance of the
Maimonidean “golden mean.” ■
Rabbi Barry Dov Lerner is retired
and provides kosher supervision for
Traditional Kosher Supervision in the
Greater Philadelphia area, while teaching
hands-on craft skills to make and use
properly holiday ritual objects. The Board
of Rabbis of Greater Philadelphia is proud
to provide diverse perspectives on Torah
commentary for the Jewish Exponent.

The opinions expressed in this column are
the author’s own and do not necessarily
refl ect the view of the Board of Rabbis.




obituaries
BASSER Beloved father, father-in-law, grand-
father, great grandfather, and friend,
Philip Boris Basser passed away
peacefully on March 17th after 105
years of remarkable life. He will be for-
ever missed, but his lessons of how to
live life with dignity, morality, generos-
ity, compassion, strength and love will
never fade. Philip was born on March
6, 1918 in Philadelphia to Fanny and
Harry Basser. After his mother died
of tuberculosis when he was only 6,
he was placed in the Foster Home for
Hebrew Orphans in the Germantown
section of the city. He would cherish
his time there and the deep and lifelong
friendships he formed, while seeing
his father on weekends and returning
with chocolate bars which would be a
staple of his diet ever after. His sister
Rose passed from complications of ap-
pendicitis when she was only 8 so his
early life continued to be marked by
loss, but his inner fortitude and innate
positivity never wavered. Phil was a
true patriot. He served in the Army Corp
of Engineers in World War II and then
signed up for the Reserves upon his re-
turn. When the Korean War started he
was summoned again for active duty
and proudly served again. During his
service, Phil acquired a small monkey
called Skeeter. Sadly, Skeeter passed
away in Japan but Phil was not deterred
from acquiring Skeeter II who made the
trip back to the US. Skeeter II proved to
be a wonderful companion but also a
true Curious George and wreaked hav-
oc in his new environment. Ultimately,
Phil had to donate Skeeter II to the
zoo. While serving in the Army Corp of
Engineers during World War II and then
the Korean War, Phil’s deep religious
faith allowed him to go forward with
resilience and strength. These charac-
teristics would define him throughout
his life and he never wavered even
as he lost his beloved daughter Faith
(for whom the Basser Center for BRCA
at the University of Pennsylvania was
founded) and then his beloved Pearl,
his wife of over 65 years. In between
the wars and after, Philip founded an
eponymous industrial advertising agen-
cy, Philip B Basser Advertising and
worked with passion and creativity until
his late 90’s. Phil was responsible for
many iconic local tv and print ads, in-
cluding the infamous “Don’t Panic, Call
Atlantic” ad for Atlantic Transmissions.

Outside spending time with his fam-
ily and friends, Phil’s true love was
watching his beloved Philadelphia
Phillies and Philadelphia Eagles. Phil
started out rooting for the Philadelphia
Athletics since his fandom pre-dated
the existence of the Phillies but once
the Athletics left town, Phil became a
loyal and devoted Phillies fan holding
season tickets for over 30 years. In
2018, during the run up to the Eagles
victory in Super Bowl 52, Philip gained
international notoriety and was a social
media sensation when his passionate
fandom for the Eagles gained him the
moniker “Philly Phil.” He was featured
throughout the playoff run and during
the Super Bowl and, at age 99, at-
tended every playoff game and then
braved the Minnesota frost and snow
to attend the Super Bowl in person to
root his team across the finish line for
the first time in the franchise’s history.

Phil’s inner strength, warm person-
ality and positive spirit endeared him
to everyone he met. But more than
anything, he loved his family and they
adored him. He lit up at the sight of
his children and grandchildren and at-
tended every performance, every youth
sports game and every holiday celebra-
tion. He never tired of telling stories of
his youth and his years in the service.

His memory was astonishing and he
could remember the smallest details
of events that happened throughout
his life. When asked what the secret to
his longevity was, he typically attributed
it to his routine of morning oatmeal, a
healthy dose of chocolate, regular ex-
ercise, a good night’s sleep and man-
aging stress. Philip is survived by his
son Steve Basser and wife Crissy, son-
in-law Gus Calderone and fiancé Kate
Berges, daughter Shari Potter and hus-
band Len, daughter Mindy Gray and
husband Jon, as well as grandchildren
Ari Basser, Raquel Agee and husband
Matt, Bianca Basser, Dustin Potter
and wife Morgan, Cami Potter, Joshua
Potter, Logan Calderone, and Margo,
Emma, Stella and Tess Gray. He was
also great grandfather to Chloe and
Rosale Agee.

activist through middle age—an early
Sixties member of the Students for a
Democratic Society and an organizer
of the urban-suburban development
project North Philadelphia Pipeline
Connect. Beginning in 1959 she orga-
nized the Social Action Committee at
our Temple Beth Tikvah in Erdenheim
PA, became PTA president in a com-
munity that at the time considered
Jews new and strange, and acted as
the coordinator for the Whitemarsh
Valley Fair Housing Project in a de-
cidedly segregated and unfriendly
area during the civil rights era. She
loved Israel and its founding hopes.

Her favorite authors were Yehoshua,
Oz and Grossman. She asked to be
buried with an Israeli flag, with soil
she’d brought back from Eretz and
with her mother’s passed-down siddur.

Contributions in her memory may be
made to the Breast Cancer Research
Foundation (https://give.bcrf.org/fund-
raiser/4063195). May the shekhinah
grant her a more complete level of
peace in the world to come
JOSEPH LEVINE & SONS
www.levinefuneral.com GOREN
CHERIE (nee Fleischman)-Passed
away on April 2, 2023. Wife of the late
Joseph Goren. Mother of Ellen Goren
and husband Max Heffler and the late
Neil Goren. Grandmother of Dr. Julie
Goren Heffler and husband Patrick
Larose, Leah Goren and Naomi Goren.

Great grandmother to Essa Goren.

Contributions in her memory may be
made to Germantown Jewish Centre,
www.germantownjewishcentre.org. GOLDSTEINS’ ROSENBERG’S
RAPHAEL-SACKS www.goldsteinsfuneral.com
NOSKOW CHARLOTTE (nee Schuster), March
31, 2023, of Phoenixville, PA, formerly
of King of Prussia, PA. Beloved wife of
the late Arnold Noskow; loving mother
of Henry Noskow and Susan (Dennis)
McManus; cherished grandmother of
Lauren (Andrew) Meyers, Brandon
(Nadia) McManus, Matthew Noskow
and great grandmother of Alexandria,
Caden, Luca, Benjamin and Oliver;
devoted sister of Doris (the late Paul)
Schor. In lieu of flowers, contributions
in Charlotte’s memory may be made to
a charity of the donor’s choice.

JOSEPH LEVINE & SONS
www.levinefuneral.com RADER
FICHMAN BRANDOW
SELMA “Sim” passed away in
Lemoyne, PA (formerly of Philadelphia)
on March 29 at the age of 97. She
was the beloved wife of 77 years
to Theodore ( ז”ל); loving mother of
Jonathan Brandow (Susan Brodkin),
Riannon Walsh, and Shanna Brandow;
adoring grandmother of Emily Rachael
Brandow, Sarah Danielle Carvajal
(Alex), and
great-granddaughter Evalina. Selma first met Ted, her fu-
ture husband, in the fifth grade. They
became sweethearts as teenagers
and married after his return from war
in 1945. She was the logical one to
his crazy creativity; the ideologue to
his humor; the determined organizer
of extended family events to his life-
of-the-party demeanor. Sim was a
doctor of sociology and a pioneer in
women’s studies, devoting herself to
research on women in Israel, on the
kibbutz and in political movements.

She taught at four colleges and univer-
sities for 29 years. She was a concert
pianist who performed several times
at Penn’s Irvine Auditorium to capac-
ity audiences and continued to play at
community events and synagogues
for much of her life. She was a political
HERBERT M. (86), of Boynton Beach,
Florida, passed away on March 18,
2023. Herbert was born to Alice and
Leon Fichman, on August 25, 1936, in
Philadelphia, PA. He was an amazing
Physician, providing the best General
Practice care. Herbert attended Temple
University and received his Doctorate
of Osteopathic degree from the Des
Moines University Medical School.

After graduating medical school,
Herbert set up his practice of over
50 years in Turnersville, NJ where he
was loved by his patients due his ded-
ication to provide the best around the
clock care. He lived with his family for
over 50 years in Cherry Hill, NJ while
summering in Ventnor, NJ. Herbert
is survived by his lovely wife Bobbie
and three children, Stacey, Howard,
and Jonathan. He was Married to his
love Bobbie for 59 years and attended
many shows and traveled the world to-
gether while drinking his favorite wine,
Pouilly-Fuisse. Herbert, fondly known
as Grandpa, doted on his three grand-
children, Lee, Chase and Cooper. He
especially adored attending baseball
games and going out to eat with his
children and grandchildren. His grand-
kids loved spending time with their
Grandpa and will truly miss him.

PLATT MEMORIAL CHAPELS
www.plattmemorial.com DR. DANIEL A., March 31, 2023 -
Husband of the late Maxine “Mackie”
Rader (nee Kroungold). Companion
of Marcia Pine. Father of Robyn (Jay)
Freedman, Wayne (Michele) Rader,
Samantha (Bill) Collins, Jonathan
Iffland and Adam (Leah) Bolder. Brother
of Pearl Meltzer. Grandfather of Jordyn
and Jamie Freedman, Maisyn, Camryn
and Justin Rader, Sara and Erik Bolder.

Uncle of Liza (Eric) Sherman and Bill
(Leigh) Meltzer. Great uncle of Samuel
and Matthew Sherman and Benjamin
and Lily Claire Meltzer. Contributions
in his memory may be made to
Shriners Hospitals For Children, Attn:
Processing Center, PO Box 947765,
Atlanta, GA 30394, www.shrinerschil-
drens.org or to the Montgomery County
SPCA, 19 E. Ridge Pike, PO Box 222,
Conshohocken, PA 19428-0222, www.

montgomerycountyspca.org. GOLDSTEINS’ ROSENBERG’S
RAPHAEL-SACKS www.goldsteinsfuneral.com
May Their Memory
Be For a Blessing
The Philadelphia Jewish Exponent
extends condolences to the families of
those who have passed.

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215-832-0700 ROSE
ELLEN (nee Magill), age 91, died
peacefully on April 1, 2023. She was
predeceased by her husband of 62
years, Jerome Rose, her daughter,
Nancy Rose Tannenbaum, and her
son, Michael Lee Schorr. Ellen was a
loving, kind, and hard-working moth-
er, grandmother, and friend. With a
great sense of humor and inquisitive
mind, Ellen excelled at her profession
as a children’s reading specialist of
35 years. She believed it is our duty
to give back to the less fortunate and
remained politically and socially en-
gaged throughout her life. After the
death of Nancy, a reading teacher,
she created the Nancy Rose Library
at the Andrew Hamilton School, and
the Nancy Rose Book Award, provid-
ing hundreds of books to students who
otherwise would not have any. She had
a passionate love of the arts and was
a patron of the Philadelphia Orchestra
for over 50 years. A lifelong learner,
Ellen was a graduate of the University
of Pennsylvania, took classes at the
Barnes Foundation, and returned to
Penn upon her retirement. Ellen was
an amazing cook and gardener, and
a voracious reader and collector of
books. She was a longtime volunteer
at the Ronald McDonald House and at
the Nancy Rose library at the Hamilton
School. Ellen was devoted to her family
and her friendships and took in all life
had to offer with true enjoyment. She is
survived by her daughter, Melissa Rose
Schorr and granddaughter Meredith.

Contributions in Ellen’s memory can
be made to: Congregation Beth Jacob
1550 Alameda de las Pulgas, Redwood
City, California 94061
att: Refugee Welcome Circle. This is
affiliated with H.I.A.S. Bethjacobrwc.

org to make donation online.

JOSEPH LEVINE & SONS
www.levinefuneral.com SOLOMON
LOIS C. (nee Liebman) - Passed away
on April 2, 2023. Mother of Stewart
(Susan) Solomon and Rebecca
Solomon. Sister of Barney Liebman
and the late Edward Liebman.

Grandmother of Ezra Solomon. In lieu
of flowers, donations can be made in
memory of “Lois C. Solomon Memorial
Bench” to Tyler Arboretum, 515
Painter Road, Media, PA 19063 or visit
TylerArboretum.org, then select Give,
then Memorials and Tributes.

GOLDSTEINS’ ROSENBERG’S
RAPHAEL-SACKS www.goldsteinsfuneral.com
JEWISHEXPONENT.COM 23