By Leora Weinstock, June 14, 2025
Shabbat shalom! I am so thankful to be sharing some words of Torah at my aufruf, in the community in which I grew up. Only goal: keep Allen Weinstock awake.
In Beha’alotcha, we open with Hashem commanding Aharon (through Moshe) to light the seven candles on the menorah in the Mishkan. In Perek Chet, Pasuk Gimel, it says –
וַיַּ֤עַשׂ כֵּן֙ אַהֲרֹ֔ן אֶל־מוּל֙ פְּנֵ֣י הַמְּנוֹרָ֔ה הֶעֱלָ֖ה נֵרֹתֶ֑יהָ כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֛ר צִוָּ֥ה יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶת־מֹשֶֽׁה׃
“Aharon did so; he mounted the lamps at the front of the lampstand, as Hashem had commanded Moses.”
Just these few words “and aharon did so” beg for some commentary. Rashi explains the midrash, saying that the verse added this phrase in order to praise Aharon for not deviating. Thus, it seems these words exist here so that we can understand how Aharon has fulfilled Hashem’s mitzvah.
But why would this be necessary to explain at all? Why ask the question if it’s obvious that Aharon would, of course, obey Hashem’s commandment? Many ask this question, and one interesting commentary I found was from Dr. Avigdor Bonchek, a clinical psychologist and author. He concluded that “No good deed should go unrecognized. We must always show recognition for a good deed and positive behavior, acknowledge it and hold it up for praise. A good act remains a good act, whether it is exceptional or not.” In all our day-to-day lives, I think we can find truth to this explanation and see why praising Aharon for fulfilling Hashem’s commandment seemed wise.
I’d like to offer another explanation though, one that some of you may not have heard before. It comes from Nachalat Tzvi, one of two sefarim written by my mother’s grandfather, Meshulam Tzvi Gross, born in 1863.
My great-grandfather writes: “Therefore, it appears to me that when Rashi said “Aharon didn’t deviate,” Rashi didn’t mean change/deviate from Hashem’s commandment. Rather, the phrase “didn’t change” is referring to Aharon himself. Meaning, Aharon himself didn’t change from what he was before the commandment. That is, it is well known that Aaron was extremely humble as he prayed “and who am I.” (“Veanachanu Mah?”) And now that he was chosen as the ONE from 600,000 Jews to light the menorah, he could have been swept up in having been chosen for this special task. Nevertheless, he didn’t have any ego. His humility and sense of self did not change at all. That’s what Rashi means by “Aharon didn’t deviate.”
When we’re presented with opportunities for changes in life, it could be easy to give into our egos and shift our perception of ourselves. A promotion, a lifestyle change, a lifecycle event – these all have the potential to change the core of who we are, if we allow them to. If your status rises, you could see yourself as someone who deserves a different social circle or community. If your status drops, you could see yourself as small and exclude yourself from those who care about you. The way you view yourself is the most important part of being “you” and Rashi and Meshulam Tzvi are reminding us here that those outside factors should never change who you are at your core. Aharon did so; he did not deviate. He fulfilled the commandment that Hashem gave to him and stayed true to who he was.
Let’s quickly look back at Pasuk bet and see how the two p’sukim relate to one another:
דַּבֵּר֙ אֶֽל־אַהֲרֹ֔ן וְאָמַרְתָּ֖ אֵלָ֑יו בְּהַעֲלֹֽתְךָ֙ אֶת־הַנֵּרֹ֔ת אֶל־מוּל֙ פְּנֵ֣י הַמְּנוֹרָ֔ה יָאִ֖ירוּ שִׁבְעַ֥ת הַנֵּרֽוֹת׃
“Speak to Aharon and say to him, “When you mount the lamps, let the seven lamps give light at the front of the lampstand.”
“Aharon did so; he mounted the lamps at the front of the lampstand, as יהוה had commanded Moses.”
Why repeat the action that Aharon completed? Couldn’t it just stop after “And Aharon did so” because we already read what Hashem commanded him? Perhaps this repetition tells us something else. Aharon is now starting a task that will be his responsibility day after day, month after month, year after year. A task like this could become mundane and he could lose focus and spirituality while completing it. But, by having the task repeated here, we can learn that even when something may seem mundane, you have the ability to revive the light from within and spark a new level of interest in it. Aharon did not deviate from this routine; he continued to find his internal light in order to light the menorah. He used his unwavering sense of self to revive his energy every day so that he could complete his commandment from Hashem.
Here is my bracha for this community that I love so much: may we stay true to ourselves even as our outer lives change. May the light from within make everyday feel fulfilling.
My great-grandfather concluded like this:
“All this I told myself in a dream Friday night Shabbat Kodesh Parashat Shoftim.”
May our dreams be as meaningful as his. Shabbat shalom.