After completing the process of initiating the kohanim (priests), they are instructed to stay for seven days and nights at the entrance of the Ohel Moed (Tent of Meetings), and “observe G-d’s command so that [they] will not die…” (8:35). Why would the priests be bound to stay specifically at the tent’s entrance rather than somewhere more comfortable inside? Also, why is the threat of death invoked?
The Chatam Sofer offers a beautiful explanation and suggests that staying at the entrance is symbolic of how we should strive to live our lives: assuming we’re on the way out and never too comfortable. By living our days as if they were our last, we ensure that we will live our lives to the fullest and that our efforts, influence, and legacy last forever.
