Parashat Tetzaveh: Aaron and the Israelite Priesthood - 5785

High Priest, Jan Luyken, 1669–1712 (colorized). Rijksmuseum.nl

In this week’s Torah portion, Tetzaveh, God bestows upon Aaron and his sons the duties of the Israelite priesthood. This role comes with a litany of tasks and responsibilities that will be laid out in detail throughout the rest of the Torah. Tetzaveh focuses on the external trappings of the priesthood, describing an intricate ordination ceremony and the extremely ornate tools and pieces of the priestly wardrobe. 

What is missing from the Torah, however, between descriptions of beautiful tunics, robes, and other parts of the priestly wardrobe, is an answer to the question: Why Aaron? What is it about Aaron that makes him particularly suited for the priesthood? Is he worthy of the role or, as Moses’ brother, is he simply an ancient beneficiary of nepotism? 

Hillel, one of Judaism’s most consequential rabbis, provides us with an answer. As quoted in Mishnah Pirkei Avot, he taught, “be of the disciples of Aaron, loving peace and pursuing peace, loving mankind and drawing them close to the Torah.” 

These are beautiful traits, to be sure, but later rabbis found themselves asking: What does it actually mean to love and to pursue peace? And what does it mean to bring people close to the Torah? In Avot DeRabbi Natan, the rabbis teach that Aaron did two things to deserve Hillel’s description. First, when he learned of a quarrel between two people, he would go to each individually and beg for forgiveness on behalf of the other, leading them to resolve their issue. Second, when Aaron learned that someone had sinned, he would go to them, treat them with kindness, and help them foster a desire to change their ways and come back to a righteous way of living. 

The priesthood was bestowed upon Aaron due to his deep, endearing love of and faith in humanity. Aaron recognized people’s inherent goodness, their ability to do tshuvah and change their mistaken ways, and he actively worked to repair broken faith between people. According to the rabbinical teachings, Aaron lived up to the highest ideal of what we would hope for from a leader, particularly a faith-leader. 

Yet Hillel’s teaching does not speak only to rabbis - it urges all of us to be disciples of Aaron. While the Israelite priesthood did not survive into modern times, Aaron’s ancient example has. Without priests, the work of loving humanity and pursuing peace falls to us. 

This week’s portion presents all of us with this challenge: How can we pursue peace and love humanity in our own lives? It will look different for all of us in our different roles, workplaces, and families. I believe that these small efforts can have effects far beyond our surroundings. 

May the example of Aaron HaCohen (the priest) inspire us all to a deeper love of humanity and the pursuit of peace, for ourselves and the world around us. Shabbat Shalom.