Be a Window and Not a Pane
Aaron did so; he lit the lamps toward the face of the Menorah, as HASHEM had commanded Moshe. (Bamidbar 8:3)
Aaron did so. This shows Aaron’s virtue that he did not deviate. —Rashi
What is the great praise of Aaron? Is lighting the Menorah such a display of skill and unusual talent? I have never heard that it was particularly difficult. Is it that he did what HASHEM asked him to do? Who of us would not do what HASHEM wanted us to do?! Was it that the Commandment came through Moshe and not directly to him? We are all doing Commandments that come from HASHEM through the agency of Moshe. So, what’s the great praise for?
The Ohr HaChaim explains that it was not just Aaron’s doing that warrants great praise. It is more how he did it and with what intention he lit the Menorah. The Possuk testifies in the first half that “he did so” but in the latter part the Possuk we are told critical information, as HASHEM had commanded Moshe”. Aaron did what he did because it was the Commandment of HASHEM! That was his sole intention. He was not distracted by or interested in the great honor and publicity and centrality of the deed that he was performing. His mind was entirely dedicated to doing what the Creator was demanding of him at that moment.
Let us take some time to appreciate this! This is a living example of what the Navi tells us that HASHEM requests from man, “…to walk (humbly) privately with your G-d!” It does not say not to do publicly and never to let anyone know what you are doing. Maybe that can be a good thing at times. The verse tells us that we are to be humble with HASHEM! We might find ourselves, like Aaron, in a position where the action we are doing is attracting attention and gaining great notoriety. In those circumstances there resides a great test! Can the man be privately humble while performing publicly!? That is the question! That is the challenge! Aaron did so! That’s what he did just so!
If we are seeking proof that such a standard is actually possible and humanly achievable, we need not look beyond another clear example in this same Parsha. The Torah testifies about Moshe, “And this man Moshe was exceedingly humble, more so than any person on earth”. (Bamidbar 12:3) I remember one of my Rebbeim marveling at this verse. Here, now, Moshe is writing the Torah being dictated by HASHEM, and the words are being recorded for posterity and in perpetuity for eternity that Moshe is the most-humble person on the face of the earth. If it is worthy of being transcribed then it must be absolutely and inalterably true.
So, here Moshe himself is penning these words and moments after they are written it is still true. He remains exceedingly humble and unchanged.
If any of us would get a quasi-favorable writeup in a local newspaper for some minor thing we did, we would have it framed for all to see and we would share it with friends and family in a chat. How could we resist!? Our hearts would be swollen with pride immediately and whenever we recall those incredibly accurate and descriptive terms, and that is even though you never agree with anything else that prejudiced paper says. This they got right! Now, how can Moshe remain unchanged by those words about him from HASHEM?! That is a great wonder!
It could be and it must be that Moshe actually saw himself, and Aaron too as ABSOLUTELY NOTHING, “NACHNU MAH” – “We are what”!?” They felt the reality of HASHEM more than they sensed themselves. This total nullification is not at all contradicted by the call for action. They do and do but only as a messenger, a vessel, a vehicle of HASHEM. As a clear glass allows light to pass though, so too their job as agents of HASHEM is to be a window and not a pane!
Go to Torah.org
Date: June 13, 2025
