Parshat Shemini 5781
Rabbi Jablinowitz
We read in this week’s parsha that on the eighth day, the Mishkan was consecrated. After the seven days of Milu’im, during which time Moshe did the service, on the eighth day Aharon began his service as the Kohen Gadol. Moshe tells Aharon to come forth and establish himself in his new position, as we read (Chapter 9, Pasuk 7), Vayomer Moshe el Aharon Kerav el Ha’Mizbeach, come forth to the Mizbeach. Rashi explains that Aharon was embarrassed to approach, so Moshe says to him, Lamah Atah Bosh, Lechach Nivcharta; Why are you embarrassed, you were chosen for this position?!
It is brought in the Sefarim, that when Moshe says to Aharon Lamah Atah Bosh, Lechach Nivcharta, he wasn’t merely telling him, do your job and don’t be embarrassed. He was explaining to him why he was chosen. Lamah Atah Bosh, it is precisely for this trait of Bushah, for your humility and shyness about asserting authority, Lechach Nivcharta, that you were specifically chosen for this position. Your reluctance makes you the most suitable for the job.
The Sfas Emes takes this teaching a step further. Not only was Aharon chosen for his midah of Bushah, but the result of being chosen creates Bushah as well. And the place where we derive this is by Matan Torah.
The pasuk says in parshat Yisro by Matan Torah (Chapter 20, Pasuk 16), Le’Va’avur Nasos Eschem Ba Ha’Elokim, U’Va’avur Tihyeh Yiraso al Peneichem Le’Vilti Se’Cheta’u. The point of Hashem revealing Himself to Bnei Yisrael at Har Sinai was to raise them up and in order for Bnei Yisrael to fear Hashem. The Gemara in Nedarim 20A quotes this pasuk and derives two fundamental points. Firstly, Yiraso al Peneichem is a reference to Boshes Panim, and this leads to fear from sinning, as the pasuk concludes Le’Vilti Se’Cheta’u. After experiencing the awe of Matan Torah, there is no way a Jew can face Hashem and sin. And secondly, concludes the Gemara, anyone who doesn’t exhibit this trait of Bushah, it is clear that his forefathers didn’t stand at Har Sinai.
This is the meaning of what we say at Leil HaSeder in Dayeinu, Ilu Kervanu Lifnei Har Sinai, V’Lo Nasan Lanu es Ha’Torah. Had Hashem brought us close to Har Sinai but not given us the Torah, that would have been sufficient. What would the point have been to bring us close to Har Sinai without receiving the Torah? The answer is, as the Gemara in Nedarim explains, just bringing us close to Har Sinai and experiencing the awe of Hashem, gave us Boshes Panim. Similarly, when Moshe tells us Aharon Kerav el Ha’Mizbeach, draw close to the Mizbeach, it is increasing Aharon’s level of Boshes Panim. Any time we come close to Hashem, we are overwhelmed with a sense of insignificance and humility.
The Mishnah in Avos (Chapter 1, Mishnah 12), teaches that the trait of Aharon was to love people and bring them close to Torah, Ohev es Ha’Briyos, U’Mekarvan La’Torah. He would bring them close by arousing within them their Bushah, their embarrassment at having done aveiros. And measure for measure, Hashem brought Aharon close to the Mizbeach and aroused within him his sense of humility and embarrassment to accept such a position. Since Aharon was Mekarev people to Torah, he himself was told by Moshe Kerav el Ha’Mizbeach.
It comes out, therefore, that there are two aspects to Bushah. In order to be worthy of a position of connection to Hashem, one needs to have Boshes Panim. And this is what is taught in the Sefarim HaKedoshim that Aharon was chosen because of his Bushah. But in addition, in order to complete the process of Bushah, one needs to come close to Hashem. Just as Bnei Yisrael drew close to Hashem at Har Sinai and developed this trait of Bushah, every time we draw close and perform a mitzvah, it enables us to perfect our level of Boshes Panim. For the more we draw close to serve Hashem, the more we realize how insignificant we truly are. And this duality is the p’shat in the words Vayomer Moshe el Aharon Kerav el Ha’Mizbeach.
Good Shabbos
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