This dvar Torah was adapted from the hashkafa portion of Rabbi Yissocher Frand’s Commuter Chavrusah Torah Tapes on the weekly Torah portion: Tape# 93, Melacha Before Havdala. Good Shabbos!
The pasuk by the culmination of the Shivas Yemei Meluim (the Seven Days of consecration or dedication) of the Mishkan says, “And Moshe said to Aharon, draw near to the Altar and offer your Sin Offering and your Burnt Offering and atone for yourself and for the nation…” (Vayikra 9:7)
Rashi cites an interesting Toras Kohanim. Aharon was embarrassed at this point about going over and doing the Avodah (Temple Service). Moshe asked, “Why are you hesitant? This is what you were chosen for!”
Another Toras Kohanim says that Aharon saw the Mizbayach (Altar) appear to him in the form of an ox and he was afraid to approach. Moshe told him to get up the courage and approach the Mizbayach.
What do Chazal mean when they say that the Mizbayach appeared like an ox? It does not take a great darshan to suggest that the purpose was to remind Aharon of the aveira (sin) of the Eigel Hazahav (Golden Calf). However, if that was the case, shouldn’t the Medrash have said that the Mizbayach appeared to Aharon like a calf, rather than like an ox?
I saw a beautiful pshat (interpretation) from Rav Shlomo Breuer. The pasuk in Tehillim (106:19-20) says, “They made a calf in Chorev… and they switched their allegiance to the form of an ox.” We see that the aveira started out as a calf, and somehow developed into an ox. Rav Shlomo Breuer says in the name of his father-in-law, Rav Samson Raphael Hirsch, that Klal Yisroel never intended for it to be real Avodah Zarah. They did not want to switch gods. Rather, they wanted an intermediary. They were afraid that Moshe had died and they wanted someone in his stead.
Aharon did something that, in retrospect, we need to say was a mistake. Aharon made a concession and said, “They want an intermediary? I will pick something for them that there is no way they will ever be able to transform it and give it any power. I will pick a weak little calf. How can anybody think that a little calf can become a god?”
What happened? The concession snow-balled and grew from being merely a calf and turned into the form of an ox — something having its own power. This was Aharon’s role in the aveira of the Eigel — making the concession of the calf that grew into an ox. That is why the Mizbayach appeared to him now in the form of an ox.
Now we can understand what Chazal mean. Aharon was afraid to become the Kohen Gadol (High Priest). He thought, “I once had my try at leadership. I once tried to be a leader and I failed. I gave into the people. I made a concession when I should have said a firm ‘No.’” As a result of that concession, the calf became an ox. That is why Aharon was hesitant. He felt that he was not cut out for the job.
Moshe told him, “Why are you hesitant? This is the very reason you were chosen!” One of the requirements of a Jewish leader is to have such a sense of hesitancy, a feeling of unworthiness. A leader who campaigns for the position and says “I am the best man for the job” is not a Jewish leader!
There was once a Jew who had such feelings. He thought that he was the right man for the job. That man’s name was Korach. We all know what happened to Korach. Such a person is not worthy to be the leader.
Hesitancy, embarrassment, intimidation, and humility are the very essence of what is needed to be worthy of assuming Jewish leadership.
Transcribed by David Twersky; Jerusalem [email protected]
Edited by Dovid Hoffman; Baltimore, MD [email protected]
This week’s write-up is adapted from the hashkafa portion of Rabbi Yissochar Frand’s Commuter Chavrusah Series on the weekly Torah portion. A listing of the halachic portions for Parshas Shmini is provided below:
- # 005 – Medicines Containing Chometz
- # 050 – The Tuna Fish Controversy
- # 093 – Melacha Before Havdalah
- # 141 – Using a Mikveh for Non-Orthodox Conversions
- # 188 – Netilas Yadayim for Bread and Fruit
- # 234 – Netilas Yadayim at Breakfast: Is One “Washed Up” for the Day?
- # 278 – Netilas Yadayim and Chatzizah
- # 324 – Sefiras Ha’omer
- # 368 – Don’t Drink and Daven
- # 412 – Minhagim of the Days of Sefira
- # 456 – Gelatin: Is It Kosher?
- # 500 – Is Turkey Kosher?
- # 544 – Bedikas Chametz
- # 588 – The Aveil and the Haircut
- # 632 – Baal Teshaktzu – Abstaining From Unpleasant Behaviour
- # 676 – Buffalo, Giraffe, and other Exotic Animals — Are they Kosher?
- # 720 – A Guf Naki for Davening
- # 764 – Loaig Le’rosh – Respecting the Dead
- # 808 – New York City – Don’t Drink the Water?
- # 852 – Four Questions You Probably Never Asked
- # 896 – Women & Havdalah – Second Thoughts
- # 941 – Mayim Acharonim: Is It Necessary?
- # 983 – Pesach – Thoughts on the Hagaddah – Vol. II
- #1027 – Giving Shalom/Saying Hello To A Person in Aveilus
- #1072 – The Fly That Fell Into The Soup
- #1114 – Can You Change Your Minhag of When To Keep Sefira?
- #1200 – Bugs in the Soup – What Should You Do?
- #1245 – The Latest Kashrus Problem: Orange Juice
- #1287 – Oops! I Spoke After Netilas Yadayim – Now What?
- #1332 – Dunking Your Doughnuts in Coffee – Must You Wash Netilas Yadayim?
- #1376 – Talking While Washing Your Hands for Netilas Yodayim – Is There a Problem?
- #1420 – Using a Plastic Cup for Kiddush, Havdala or Netilas Yadayim?
- #1464 – Davening in a Porch Minyan During the Corona Pandemic – Is It A Good Idea?
- #1507 – An Interesting Sefiras HaOmer Shailah
- #1549 – DUI – Davening Under the Influence
A complete catalogue can be ordered from the Yad Yechiel Institute, PO Box 511, Owings Mills MD 21117-0511. Call (410) 358-0416 or e-mail [email protected] or visit http://www.yadyechiel.org/ for further information.