In this week’s parashah, the Torah introduces the mitzvos of making the bigdei kehunah with the following statement: וְאַתָּה הַקְרֵב אֵלֶיךָ אֶת אַהֲרֹן אָחִיךָ וְאֶת בָּנָיו אִתּוֹ מִתּוֹךְ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל לְכַהֲנוֹ לִי אַהֲרֹן נָדָב וַאֲבִיהוּא אֶלְעָזָר וְאִיתָמָר בְּנֵי אַהֲרֹן, And you, bring near to yourself Aharon your brother and his sons with him, from the Children of Israel, to make him a Kohen for me… (28:1).
Just what does this mean? The garments – and the Mishkan, for that matter – were not yet made. Where was Moshe to “bring them close”? What was he to do?
If it is simply telling us that the garments had to be made for these individuals (to their measurements, etc.), the instructions in the appropriate verses (v. 2 for Aharon, v. 40 for his sons) would have been adequate.
In Parashas Shemos (4:14) we learned that the “anger of Hashem burned” against Moshe for having continuously demurred from being the messenger to save the Jews. His punishment, Rashi there tells us (citing Chazal), is that although Moshe was to have been the Kohen and Aharon the Levi, now their roles were to be reversed.
We may understand our verse to mean that Hashem is telling Moshe “bring them near to yourself,” fill your heart with love for them, so that you will not feel any slight as they are designated to be the ones who do the Service as Kohanim.
Alternately, Hashem is telling Moshe: Attah, you, do you want to know why your brother and his children, rather than you and your descendants, are being chosen to do My Service for eternity? Hakreiv eilecha, bring it close to you – it is because of you. Had you not angered me by refusing My mission – even though you did so out of humility and with the best intentions – you and your progeny would have been designated for this lofty role.
We must certainly always be abundantly aware of our weaknesses and shortcomings; we must be humble and flee kavod. But there are times in life that we are given a role to play. Those are not positions of honor, but of responsibility; as Rabban Gamliel puts us (see Horios 10a-b): “You think that by appointing you to a position of authority I am giving you mastery? I am giving you servitude (to the people)!”
At those times, we must make sure to take advantage of the opportunities being presented to us. If we fail, we stand to forfeit our destiny for generations to come. But if we rise to the challenge, we have fulfilled our mission, and that is, after all, our purpose on this world.
May we always be granted the wisdom to recognize and fulfill our mission, and may we be zocheh to be marbeh kevod Shamayim in all that we do.
Gut Shabbos
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