The Golden Menorah
Parshas Behaalosecha begins with the Menorah. In explaining the reason why the kindling of the Menorah was placed next to that of the special offerings of the Nesiim, Rashi tells us what Aharon was feeling. He became unsettled, as neither he nor his shevet had taken part in these special offerings, while the rest of Klal Yisrael had. Hashem told him of the lighting of the Menorah; reassuring Aharon that his service of the Menorah was greater than the contribution of the Nesiim. Now, what exactly was Aharon longing for? If it was the beautiful korbanos each of the Nesiim had brought, recorded at the end of Parshas Nasso, Aharon had certainly played a key role in those offerings! He was, after all, the Kohen Gadol, and he and his children had certainly preformed the avodah with each one of those offerings! It is clear, then, that the emotions Rashi is referencing were due not to the individual offerings the Nesiim had presented, but rather to the joint offering of the oxen and wagons they had brought together. This unique offering was brought by these great leaders as a way to transport the Mishkan - which symbolized a pledge to establish and reestablish the Torah way of life in every place that Klal Yisrael encamped. The Nesiim intended to ensure that the Torah remained a part of the lives of the people, no matter where they would travel. Aharon was unsettled by this because he was not among this group of Nesiim, and thus he did not understand how his mission differed from the commitment they had issued. For if the Nesiim were going to ensure that the Torah remained with Klal Yisroel always, what was the need for a Kohen Gadol to lead the nation? If every Jewish dwelling would be filled with the hashkafos of the Torah, why was a senior mechanech and Rebbi necessary? It was in response to this that Hashem revealed to Aharon that his position was indeed necessary, and in fact more integral than that of the Nesiim. Their mission was to establish the Torah, enabling Klal Yisroel to live according to the Torah. But Aharon’s mission was the guidance forward and the chinnuch of the next generation - which essentially comprised showing Klal Yisroel how to live with the Torah, and teaching them what Hashem wanted from them. True, Klal Yisrael lived according to the Torah and did as they were taught, but teaching the Torah and ensuring it’s proper transmission to the next generation would be the realm of the Kohen Gadol. The Kohen Gadol kindled the Menorah. The unique way he was commanded to kindle the flames was she’oleh m’eilehah, until they shone forth on their own, symbolized the extent to which the chinnuch Aharon would provide would be necessary. He would teach Torah with a clarity and understanding that would allow it to be carried forth and applied to every time and situation appropriately. The Kohen Gadol was to teach the nation daas Torah and how it carries through to answer every generation’s own new challenges. And this very concept indeed affects us today. Many are of the opinion that because they grew up in Torah homes, they therefore possess all the knowledge they need for life. No oversight or supervision on their choices is necessary, for they are good Jews. This is never true. One always needs that Kohen Gadol, that Rebbi who sees further than he can see and understands the depth of the Torah’s ways, to guide him. Only a Rebbi has the breadth of Torah knowledge to know how and when to apply certain middos and certain halachic rulings. One who follows his base knowledge in these areas many times ends up hurting himself or others in his quest for greatness; and his reward is lost, just as he thinks he has amassed more and more! We must not make the mistake of wandering the paths of this world without a Rebbi. The only way Torah can continue is through the transmission of the mesorah. A Gut Shabbos! A Project of the YSI Alumni Association Written by R’ Moshe Weiss
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