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In this week’s parsha, we encounter the mysterious death of Aharon’s two sons, Nadav and Avihu. As the Torah text itself is vague in describing the episode, numerous explanations are given by the Midrashim and meforshim as to why they were punished with death. Equally astonishing, however, is Aharon’s reaction to the tragedy. Faced with the death of two sons in such dramatic fashion, the Torah tells us “וידם אהרון”, “And Aharon was silent”. Many meforshim even note that the word used to describe Aharon’s silence is unusual — it indicates not a regular silence, but a conscious and deliberate silence. The Torah seems to imply that, while it would have been natural and understandable for Aharon to react verbally given the situation, he actively held himself back consciously from commenting or crying. But why? Why didn’t Aharon give expression to the naturally overwhelming emotions that must have been welling up in his heart?