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The Short Vort- The more things change, the more they stay the same (5/28/10)
The Short Vort
Good Morning!
Today is Friday the 15th of Sivan 5770 and May 28, 2010
Parshas B’halos’cha; Candle Lighting in Passaic, NJ: 8:00 pm
The more things change, the more they stay the same
In this week’s Sedra, Aharon is told my Moshe that:
color:navy">"When you light the lamps, the seven lamps shall cast their light toward the face of the menorah." (Bamidbar 8:2)
The very next passuk informs us that:
Aaron did so; he lit the lamps toward the face of the menorah, as the Lord had commanded Moses. (Bamidbar 8:3)
Rashi comments:
:”Aaron did so: This shows Aaron’s virtue that he did not deviate [from God’s command]”. — [Sifrei Beha’alosecha 1:5]
Many of the commentators are bothered by the necessity of the Torah- as explained by Rashi- to inform us that Aharon did what Moshe told him to do and are equally puzzled that this fact of his obedience to the word of Hashem is praiseworthy and worthy of specific mention.
After all, would we have expected Aharon to deviate from the word of Hashem as told to him by Moshe? Would we really have expected Aharon to do differently?
There are many answers to this question. I would just like to share one with you.
The Sfas Emes points out that often in life we are full of enthusiasm and excitement for a project at its initial stage.
We all begin the school year or our job by being on time for the first day (at least) of our job.
However, for most of usthe well known adage: “Though familiarity may not breed contempt, it takes the edge off admiration” (William Hazlitt, British write 1778-1830) is very true.
Meaning, although we all want to feel familiar with our service to Hashem, nevertheless, we do want that familiarity to cause us to lose or even reduce our admiration, excitement and zeal in our service of Hashem.
It is relatively easy to be excited and act with a sense of alacrity the first day on the job; however, after years and years of doing the same service, it can be become monotonous and run of the mill.
This therefore was the greatness of Aharon. When the Torah informs us: “Aaron did so”; and as Rashi comments: “This shows Aaron’s virtue that he did not deviate”, this was said not on the first day at the job! This was true of Aharon always; even twenty years later.
His enthusiasm and his gusto never waned, no matter how often he approached the Mizbeach.
Every day to Aharon was day number one.
The lesson is clear: today is the first day of the rest of your life!
Have a Gutten Shabbos!