Parashat Tesave- The Heart of Aharon
Parashat Tesave describes the "Bigdeh Kehuna," the special garments worn by the Kohanim as they served in the Bet Hamikdash. One of the special garments was the Hoshen, the breastplate that the Kohen Gadol (high priest) wore on his chest. The Hoshen was no ordinary piece of clothing. It contained the "Urim Vetumim," a script containing the seventy-two-letter Name of God. When a matter of pressing national importance arose, such as whether to wage war and the like, the Kohen Gadol would pose the question to the Urim Vetumim, and certain letters of the script would shine. The Kohen Gadol would then rearrange the letters to determine God’s response. The Hoshen was thus a very sacred article, through which Aharon actually wore the divine Name on his chest.
The Sages teach that Aharon had undoubtedly earned some special merit for which he was rewarded with this great privilege, to wear the Hoshen upon his heart. Earlier in the Book of Shemot, we read that when Moshe returned to Egypt from Midyan to lead Beneh Yisrael to freedom, Aharon greeted Moshe with sincere joy. As God told Moshe before his return to Egypt, "He [Aharon] will see you and will rejoice in his heart" (Shemot 4:14). Moshe had expected Aharon to feel slighted over Moshe’s designation as leader of Beneh Yisrael. Throughout the years of Moshe’s stay in Midyan, Aharon had served as the people’s spiritual leader, working tirelessly to infuse them with encouragement and hope amid the misery of slavery. Now, his younger brother, who had been away from it all, suddenly arrives and assumes the mantle of leadership. Ordinary people would have felt at least some degree of jealousy or resentment. But not Aharon. He celebrated his brother’s good fortune, rather than envying or resenting it. He felt in his heart nothing but joy upon learning of his brother’s appointment as leader.
Very often, it is easier to feel empathy for somebody’s misfortune than to celebrate his good fortune. When we see somebody suffering, we naturally feel sympathetic. But upon hearing of his success and good fortune, we cannot help but feel a degree of envy. Aharon, however, overcame this tendency, and felt such genuine love for other people that he felt in his heart nothing but joy for Moshe’s success.
Such a heart was worthy of having God’s name upon it. A heart that could love other people to such an extent is the heart with which the Almighty chooses to associate His Name.
Today, all observant Jews fill the role of the "Kohanim," of representing Torah to the rest of the nation. We, like the Kohen Gadol, carry God’s Name upon our hearts, so-to-speak, serving as His representatives. To be worthy of this distinction, we must follow Aharon’s inspiring example of Ahabat Haberiyot – love for all people. And, as in the case of Aharon, it must begin in the home, within the family unit. It is easy to speak in politically correct terms of the love and respect we must feel for other groups and other nations. It is undoubtedly true that we must love and respect people who are different from us, but this is not where the difficult challenge lies. It does not take much to like people from afar, people with whom we have little contact. It is far more difficult to feel love for those with whom we come in contact every day, especially close family members. Aharon was deemed worthy for his position because of the love he showed to his brother, an immediate family member – and this is the example that we, as his loyal students, are to follow at all times.
