THE CHILDREN OF AARON

Parashat Beha’alot’kha

Sivan 16, 5784 / June 21-22, 2024

Torah: Numbers 8:1 - 12:16
Haftarah: Zechariah 2:14 - 4:7

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This d’var torah is offered in memory of my cousin, Patricia "Didi" Barkan, who passed away on Monday, June 17. Y'hi zekherah liv'rakhah - her memory is a blessing.

This d’var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah for Sarah Raizel bat Elisheva, Elie Ya'akov ben Pesha Leah, and Yaffa bat Blimah.

This d’var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah and a speedy and safe return of all the hostages being held by Hamas.

This d’var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah for all who have been wounded in the terrorist attacks and in fighting against the terrorists, as well as innocent non-combatants caught in the crossfire

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Lunch and Learn meets Mondays at 12:30 PM on Zoom and Facebook Live. NO Lunch and Learn on June 24. On July 1, we'll be at BT Shabbat 152b, page 212 of Ein Ya'akov (Glick edition) Volume 1: 

'... הנוהו קפולאי'  

"There were gravediggers ..."

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Please pass this on to a friend - and please cite the source.

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THE CHILDREN OF AARON

"Speak to Aaron, saying, 'When you light the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light in front of the menorah (the candlestick).'" Numbers 8:2

The Midrash, Bamidbar Rabbah, says that Aaron was upset. The heads of all the tribes, except Levi (the tribe of Aaron and the kohanim, and he was the head of Levi) had offered sacrifices (see last week’s Parashat Naso). He feared the Levites were being punished because of his sins. Rather, teaches the Midrash, Aaron and his descendants were given a greater honor - the lighting of the menorah in the tabernacle. Sacrifices would be offered only so long as the Temple stood, but the lamps would always give light in front of the menorah, and all the blessings God instructed the kohanim to bless the Jews with (see Naso, Numbers 6:22-27) would never be abolished.

The Knesset Menorah, Jerusalem (German Wikipedia)

Ramban (Nachmanides), in his commentary, wonders what this really means. After all, the menorah was not lit after the destruction of the Temple - it didn't exist either. He says the reference is to the menorah of Hanukkah, for that would go into exile with the Jews after the destruction, just as the blessings offered originally at the dedication of the desert tabernacle would be given to the Jews forever.

Hanukkah Menorah (Getty Images)

The interesting thing about all of this is that, just as every Jew can (and should!) offer the blessings of the kohanim over his/her children (see last week's blog, https://rav-rich.blogspot.com/2024/06/the-power-of-god-is-in-your-hands.html), so is every Jew obligated to light the menorah of Hanukkah every year. The real comfort to Aaron is not simply that his descendants get to light the menorah. It is that all Jews are in a sense his descendants, for we are a "kingdom of priests (mamlekhet kohanim) and a holy nation (goy kadosh)." (Exodus 19:6) We are all Aaron's children - so long as we keep the lights burning and bring blessings to our people.

Shabbat Shalom!

Rabbi Richard A. Flom

הַלּוֹמֵד מִכָּל אָדָם ?אֵיזֶהוּ חָכָם

Who is wise? The one who learns from every person.

Ben Zoma - Pirkei Avot 4:1

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