Parashat Shemini- Feeling Shame for One's Wrongdoing
***Candleighitng time in Brooklyn NY, Erev Shabbat ,March 28th: 6:58PM
Minha followed by Seudat Shelishi, Derasha with Rabbi Mansour & Arbit begins at 6:25 PM ***
Parashat Shemini- Feeling Shame for One's Wrongdoing
Parashat Shemini tells of "opening day" in the Mishkan, the first day on which the Mishkan operated and the Kohanim officiated in their capacity as God's attendants in His Sanctuary.
The Sages tell us that when Aharon entered the area of the Mishkan to perform the Avoda (service) for the first time, he saw the altar and became terribly frightened. The protrusions on the four corners of the altar resembled the horns of a bull, and brought to mind the image of the golden calf that Aharon had fashioned. Aharon suddenly remembered the incident of the calf and his role in that debacle, and was disheartened. How, he wondered, could he possibly be worthy of serving as the Kohen Gadol (high priest) in God's Mishkan after his involvement in such a grievous sin? Aharon thus began to retreat, unable to bring himself to accept the position of Kohen Gadol.
Moshe, however, urged Aharon forward, reassuring him that he has indeed been selected by God Himself for this role. He had nothing to fear; to the contrary, God specifically assigned him to this position.
One might wonder why Aharon's thinking was incorrect. Is it not true that he fashioned the golden calf? Although his motives were undoubtedly sincere, still, he made a mistake that had grave repercussions. Why did Moshe urge him to nevertheless assume the awesome task of the high priesthood despite this mistake?
The answer, perhaps, relates to the concept that when a person transgresses and experiences shame and humiliation as a result, that discomfort itself earns him atonement for his wrongdoing. When a sinner feels genuinely contrite, anxious and ashamed over his conduct, he achieves expiation through these emotions. Moshe thus told Aharon that he had nothing to fear in approaching the altar and officiating as a Kohen, because the feelings of shame and remorse he experienced were themselves the basis of his atonement. They ensured that his involvement in the golden calf was forgiven, and he has achieved full Kapara (expiation).
None of us are perfect; we all have many stains on our record, and we make mistakes on occasion. We cannot expect ourselves to avoid wrongdoing altogether, but we must at least learn the lesson of Aharon, to feel genuine shame and embarrassment over our mistakes. Never should a person feel perfectly at ease thinking about his mistakes or talking about them with his friends. Our mistakes should make us feel uneasy and ashamed, in the merit of which we, like Aharon, will be deserving of complete atonement and forgiveness.
