Parashat Beha’alot’kha
Sivan 21, 5786 / June 5-6, 2026
Torah: Numbers 8:1 - 12:16
Haftarah: Zechariah 2:14 - 4:7
Torah: Numbers 8:1 - 12:16
Haftarah: Zechariah 2:14 - 4:7
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Lunch and Learn meets Mondays at 12:30 PM on Zoom and Facebook Live.
We're continuing to read and discuss Ramban (Nachmanides) on the Book of Genesis
On June 8, we'll be at https://www.sefaria.org/Ramban_on_Genesis.1.4.1?lang=bi
It is recommended that you also have with you a chumash with commentaries.
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Please feel free to pass this on to a friend, and please cite the source.
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Please feel free to pass this on to a friend, and please cite the source.
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THE ZEALOUS MODERATE“Now the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Speak to Aaron and say to him, ‘When you set up the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light in front of the lampstand.’ And Aaron did so: he set up its lamps in front of the lampstand, as the Lord commanded Moses.” Numbers 8:1-3
Hatam Sofer (R. Moses Schreiber, 1762 – 1839): “The Talmud (BT Megillah 21) says that the middle lamp is the most praiseworthy. This teaches that each person should adopt the middle course. People should not veer too far to the left or right, being excessively lax or excessively pious. (See Rambam’s Shemonah Perakim and Hilchot De’ot, and his discussion of the beinoni - the moderate personality – RAF) However, ‘Aaron was separated, that he should sanctify the holiest things.’ (1 Chronicles 23:13) Didn’t that separation mark a deviation from the middle path? Therefore, we are told, ‘And Aaron did so.’ This teaches us that even after God had separated out Aaron, nevertheless he did not change, and he continued to follow the middle path.”
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Despite his great ritual power and influence, Aaron remains the model of moderation. However, according to our tradition, there is one area in which Aaron was a zealot – he was a rodef shalom, an active pursuer of peace. The Aggadah (Avot D’Rebbi Natan) describes Aaron’s efforts in ending quarrels between people. Also, "Hillel would say: Be of the disciples of Aaron – a lover of peace, a pursuer of peace …" (Pirkei Avot 1:12).
This idea of pursuing peace comes from "Who is the person that desires life, and loves days, to see good therein? Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking guile. Banish evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it." (Psalms 34:13-15).
The “pursuit” of peace implies action. This is much more difficult than sitting back and lobbing verbal or written potshots at people with whom we disagree and seeking to assign blame – especially when it comes to people with whom we are fighting. Don’t claim to desire peace if you are not actively pursuing it. Be zealous for peace – like the moderate Aaron.
Shabbat Shalom!
Rabbi Richard A. Flom
Rabbi Emeritus, Temple B’nai Hayim
הרחמן הוא יברך אותנו כולנו יחד בברכת אחוה, ובברכת אהבה,ובברכת שלום
May the Merciful One bless us, all of us as one, with the blessing of brotherhood, the blessing of love, and the blessing of peace.
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