TETZAVEH


"AHARON SHALL CARRY THE NAMES OF THE SONS OF YISROEL, IN THE BREASTPLATE OF JUDGEMENT [CHOSHEN HAMISHPAT] OVER HIS HEART..." (Shmos 28:29)


The Gemorah in Shabbos (139a) states that Aharon was rewarded with the privilege of wearing the Choshen Mishpat over his heart in the merit of "when he sees you, he will rejoice in his heart (Shmos 4:14)." When Hashem chose Moshe to become the leader of Klal Yisroel and to redeem them from the bondage of Mitzrayim to freedom, Moshe did not readily accept. He was afraid that he might offend the feelings of his older brother, Aharon. It was only when HaKadosh Boruch Hu assured Moshe that "when Aharon sees you, he will rejoice in his heart," that Moshe relented and agreed to accept the mission. Although Aharon was older than Moshe, and was also privileged to receive Divine Revelation and prophecy before Moshe had received it, Aharon, nevertheless, entertained no jealousy whatsoever toward Moshe. [Rashi on abovementioned Gemorah.]


Thus it seems from here that Aharon had earned the distinct privilege of wearing the Choshen Mishpat on his pure and holy heart. Although it would only seem natural for jealousy to exist within the heart of Aharon due to the fact that he already was the leader and prophet of Klal Yisroel for eighty years in Egypt and now had to relinquish it, and due to the fact that he was relinquishing it to his younger brother, Aharon, nevertheless, overcame this most difficult of tests. Indeed, even Moshe, despite knowing of his brother's holiness and purity, suspected that there may exist some infinitesimally subtle strands of jealousy within the recesses of Aharon's heart, and not wishing to offend him, could not assume leadership. Nevertheless, Aharon overcame this difficult test. He uprooted any instinctive feelings of jealousy that might have existed within him. Not only did he succeed in its obliteration, but he went beyond this. He supplanted it with joy for his younger brother's success, doing so with all his heart [Maharsha]. Aharon thus reached the pinnacle of excellence. He brought to fruition his full potential, reaching his full capacity of purity of heart. He did so to the extent that Hashem Himself testified and told Moshe, "When he goes out to greet you and sees you, he will rejoice in his heart." It was for this achievement that Aharon earned the great reward of wearing the Choshen Mishpat on his heart.


In light of this, the following Chazal will be most difficult to comprehend. The Yalkut Shimoni (VaYeshev 141) says that if Aharon would have known that HaKadosh Boruch Hu would write in the Holy Torah, "He is going out to meet you and when he sees you his heart will rejoice," he would have gone toward him with drums and dance! This Chazal clearly indicates that Aharon's heart had the capacity for even more joy than he actually did have. Had he known that HaKadosh Boruch Hu would record of him in the holy Torah for eternity, "And when he sees you he will rejoice in his heart," his joy would have been so deep he would not have been able to contain it within the confines of his heart alone. The abundance of joy would have poured out of his heart into external expression of drums and dance.


This is perplexing. How could this Chazal in the Yalkut Shimoni indicate that Aharon's heart had the capacity to have even more joy in his heart than he actually had, and that he could have gone out to meet Moshe with drums and dance? Didn't we just learn that Aharon, by virtue of his not entertaining even a remote trace of jealousy and rather feeling with all his heart the utmost sensation of joy, reached the very peak of his potential? Hashem Himself testified that "when he sees you he will rejoice with all his heart [Maharsha], to the full extent of its capacity. How then could Aharon possibly do more than he already did?


Perhaps we can see from here the wonderful creation that is the human being. Although every person has his limitations, and his capacities cease at a given point, with an additional motivating factor, the person's limitations may be expanded. Even after reaching the peak of his abilities the human being, nevertheless, has the ability to broaden and create an even greater potential within himself. Had Aharon known the high regard in which Hashem holds his rejoicing with all his heart at his younger brother Moshe's success and that it would be recorded in the holy Torah for posterity, then this would have induced Aharon to work harder to be more creative and innovative in finding ways to ascend to even greater spiritual hearts in the development of his pure and holy heart. The depths of his being would have gushed with so much joy that he would not have been able to merely rejoice in his heart, he would have uncontrollably expressed his newfound joy with drums and dance.


May we realize the wonder of Hashem's incredible creation, the human being. He has the ability to control his deepest emotions. One should never say, "I am what I am. I cannot alter my character traits." Not only can a person train himself to eradicate jealousy from within him, when faced with a situation where such a feeling would be natural and instinctive, but one can discipline oneself to supplant it with the greatest feelings of joy, reaching the pinnacle of one's capacity for joy. Man can can even go still further. He can inspire and motivate himself to expand his capacity and reach new and hitherto unexplored heights in the development of his character traits. Such is the greatness of HaKadosh Boruch Hu's creation, the human being.


May we be zoche to rid ourselves of any jealousy that exists within our hearts toward our fellow Jews. May we "fargein" our fellow Jews and rejoice from the bottom of our hearts at their successes. May the knowledge that Hashem holds in the highest regard our rejoicing over the successes of our friends induce us to elevate ourselves even beyond our capacity and attain new dimensions in rejoicing at the success of our fellow brethren. Amen.


These weekly Parsha sheets are based on Shmuessin delivered at Yeshiva Kesser Torah by HaRav Elyakim Getzel Rosenblatt, שליט"א, Rosh HaYeshiva. This Shmuess is adapted from a Shmuess of Maran HaGaon HaRav Henach Leibowitz, זצ"ל.

Yeshiva Kesser Torah, 72-11 Vleigh Place Flushing, NY 11367. (718) 793-2890. YeshivaKesserTorah@gmail.com.

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