The first Rashi in this week’s Parsha,
Beha’alotcha, asks why does the Torah juxtapose the Parsha of the menorah at
the beginning of this week’s parsha with the Parsha of the Nesi’im from the end
of last week’s parsha? Rashi answers that when Aharon saw the contributions of
the Nesi’im to the Mishkan, he was saddened at the fact that he and the rest of
Shevet Levi were not able to participate in the contributions. Hashem responds by
telling him not to worry, his portion is greater than theirs because he will
light and set up the candles of the menorah.
The Ramban asks a question on this
Rashi: Why did Aharon get so depressed? Isn’t he the only one that can do the
service of Yom Kippur, the one who goes into the Kodesh Hakedoshim which is as
close to Hashem as one possibly can get? Isn’t his tribe the one that was
entrusted with leading the service of Hashem in the Mishkan and many other
aspects? He had so many opportunities to serve Hashem, what made him so upset
about this one Mitzvah? One may think the answer to this question would be that
Aharon was upset because the contributions of the Nesi’im were voluntary, while
his jobs were commandments. This cannot be true because then Hashem’s promise
to him that he will light the menorah, which is also a commandment, would not
appease him. The Ramban leaves this question unanswered, but explains based on
a Medrash Rabba that Hashem was telling Aharon that his portion is significantly
greater because korbanot are only brought when the Beit Hamikdash is still
standing, while the candles will always be, “אֶל מוּל פְּנֵי
הַמְּנוֹרָה יָאִירוּ “, shine towards the
center of the Menorah.
The Ramban then asks, isn’t the menorah
also no longer lit since the Beit Hamikdash was destroyed? He answers that the
candles that Hashem is referring to are the candles of the miracle of Chanukah
which we light nowadays even without the Beit Hamikdash.
The Kli Yakar asks on this point of the
Ramban: Weren’t the candles of Chanukah also discontinued for a period of time
after the Chashmonaim? He answers that the difference between the candles and
the korbanot, is that when the candles return was brought about through
miracles, unlike the korbanot which did not come back at all.
Rabbi Yaakov Yitzchak Ruderman offers a
possible answer to the Ramban’s unanswered question of what exactly upset
Aharon. He brings down a story of the great Vilna Gaon who right before his
death, grabbed onto the strings of his tzitzit and began to weep
uncontrollably. He explained to those
around him that it pained him so deeply to think that once he left this world,
he would no longer be able to fulfill any mitzvah in Olam Haba (The World To
Come), even a simple one such as tzitzit. Rabbi Ruderman explains that so too Aharon
loved every single mitzvah, and even though he had many other privileges that
no one else received, he still could not stand that he was not able to fulfill
this one mitzvah together with the Nesi’im. We see from Aharon HaKohen and the
Vilna Gaon such an intense love for each and every Mitzvah, that their
inability to fulfill even just one upset them.
R Shniur Kotler asks that according to
this, what was Hashem’s response to Aharon to make him feel better? He answers
that Hashem explains to Aharon that he was given a portion in every mitzvah.
The Pasuk says, “כי נר מצוה ותורה אור”
“for the candle is the mitzvah and the Torah is the light” (Mishlei
6:23). We see a clear comparison of a candle to a Mitzvah and the Torah to
light. Therefore, when Hashem commanded Aharon in the lighting of the menorah
he was in essence giving over to him the role of leadership in terms of Torah
learning. This can also be seen from the pasuk “כִּי שִׂפְתֵי כֹהֵן
יִשְׁמְרוּ דַעַת וְתוֹרָה יְבַקְשׁוּ מִפִּיהוּ” “for the lips of the
Kohen should safeguard knowledge, and people should seek teaching from his
mouth” (Malachi 2:7). Each and every mitzvah is represented by a candle, and
each and every candle must be lit from the fire of the Torah. Through this, we
see that Aharon really did take part in every mitzvah, and furthermore,
Hashem tells Aharon that he will get the Mitzvah of the Menorah which
represents Torah and will last forever.
We should all be zoche to value and
enjoy each and every mitzvah like our great ancestors and understand the power
that Torah has on our lives as well.
Shabbat Shalom!
Lior
Lior Goldstein lives in Boca Raton, Florida. He studied in Yeshivas Derech Etz Chaim in Jerusalem for two years and is currently studying in Lander College for Men in New York. I would like to thank Lior for once again filling in for me.
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