פרשת בהעלותך
In this week’s Parsha, Hashem commands Aharon regarding the lighting of the Menorah. The Torah states that Aharon did exactly as he was commanded and Rashi comments that on the merit of Aharon’s obedient behavior in lighting the Menorah exactly as he was commanded, he was praised by the Torah.
This comment of Rashi seems very strange. If God commanded Aharon with specific instructions in the lighting of the Menorah, is there any thought that Aharon Hacohen, or any one of us for that matter, would deliberately ignore the command of God and “do our own thing”?! Why would the Torah give such praise to Aharon for such a seemingly insignificant act?
One possible solution to this difficulty is offered by many of the commentaries. They explain that although it is true that it would not have been that big of a deal for Aharon to comply with God’s specifications in dealing with the Menorah for one or two days, Aharon successfully carried out Gods instructions for every day for forty years. This consistency which Aharon displayed is what earned him the praises of the Torah. As we all know, there are times when we are more “in the mood” to serve God and times when we are less. Despite Aharon’s “chemical changes” or his physical health, despite any weather conditions, Aharon lit that Menorah every day with the same conviction, and same attention to detail as he did on the first day. This is certainly an admirable feet and deserving of praise. Indeed, my Rebbi, R’ Dovid Solevechik used to explain that this ability to serve God under any circumstances, and not to be affected by the many deterrents that come to every Ben Torah daily, is the key ingredient to growth in Torah and in many cases, this consistency is the hallmark of a Gadol!
Perhaps we could invoke the famous words of the Chasam Sofer on this week’s Parsha to bolster what we have said. The Chasam Sofer points out that Aharon did not have the easiest life. We know, for example, that during the forty year period, both of Aharon’s sons died on the same day and that was the day that all of the children of Israel had reached the pinnacle of happiness – the day the Mishkan was inaugurated. Yet we have no record that Aharon took a break that day from the lighting of the Menorah. Furthermore, continues the Chasam Sofer, we know from the Torah, that Aharon himself was not required to be the one lighting the Menorah, he could have had any one of his brethren, the other Kohanim do it. Yet he did not. He chose to personally be involved with the fulfillment of God’s commandment even during such a trying moment and not to indulge in his own personal grief, even though he had full right to do so. From these powerful words of the Chasam Sofer, we see that indeed Aharon certainly earned the praise that he received for his consistency in the lighting of the Menorah.
The Sefas Emes offers another interesting possibility to explain the Torah’s lavish of praise on Aharon. The Sefas Emes explains that while it is true that to physically follow the Torah’s specifications for carrying out the daily service and the lighting of the Menorah would not have been that difficult, there was another aspect which was. When the Torah tells us that Aharon lit the Menorah every day without changing, the Torah is testifying to us that Aharon lit the Menorah with the same excitement and the same enthusiasm that he did on the very first day! That gusto was certainly not easy to maintain for a full forty years. We all know that when we begin a new task, or we first become religious, it comes with a certain element of intrigue and excitement which rapidly evaporates. But if one can somehow capture those feelings, and maintain them for an entire lifetime, obviously their success in whatever they are doing will be infinitely greater. The Sefas Emes concludes by saying that very often, when that initial excitement wears off, we become jaded and spend the rest of our life looking for those feelings again. But if instead of doing that, we would have preserved that original enthusiasm that we had, we would have been far happier because those first few moments are the purest and holiest of all!
The Sefas Emes’s words are certainly true and do not need any support, but perhaps we could reinforce his ideas with the Gemorah in Berachos, (9). The Gemora says that Ula was asked to travel to Eretz Yisroel to check on the welfare of R’ Bruna. The reason given to Ula for this strange request was because R’ Bruna is a big man, who is always happy to do Mitzvos. The Gemora explains that one time, R’ Bruna managed to say “Shema” and “Shemona Esrei” at exactly their proper times, and his smile didn’t leave his face for the entire day. We see from this Gemora a strong support to the Sefas Emes. One’s excitement for Mitzvos is the factor which earns him the title of “Adam Gadol” and to the extent that he can develop this trait, so to will his stature grow!
The truth is, the performance of Mitzvos properly is a natural cause for Simcha. The verse in Tehilim says “God’s commandments are straight, and the cause the heart to rejoice.” The commentaries explain that when one fulfills his earthly desires, he doesn’t feel deep down like he has achieved anything of value. Whereas when one performs God’s commandments he has a true sense of accomplishment, and justifiably so.
I would just like to conclude with the verse in Devarim (6:6). “And these commandments that I have given you will always be on your heart…” Rashi explains that the commandments of the Torah should not be like an old decree from the king which one never reads or fulfills with enthusiasm, but rather like a new and exciting one which all of the citizens perform with alacrity and zeal.
May God help us that our service of Him should always be with excitement and zest the way that He intended as Sinai!