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These divrei Torah were adapted from the hashkafa portion of Rabbi Yissochar Frand's Commuter Chavrusah Torah Tapes on the weekly Torah portion: Tape #6, The Insects in Vegetable Controversy . Good Shabbos!
Atonement With A Goat and Atonement With A Calf
In this weeks Parsha, we learn about the final stages of the dedication of the Mishkan. As part of this "Chanukas HaBayis" Aharon was told to bring a calf as a sin-offering and a ram as a burnt offering. Klal Yisroel [the Jewish people] were told to bring a goat for a sin offering, a calf and lamb for a burnt offering, and a bull and a ram for peace offerings. [Vayikra 9:2-4].
The Toras Kohanim comments on the fact that Klal Yisroel had to bring more sacrifices than Aharon. The Toras Kohanim explains that Klal Yisroel had, on their account with G-d, "sins at the beginning and sins at the end". The "sins at the beginning" refer to the goat they slaughtered at the time of the sale of Yosef. The "sins at the end" refer to the Golden Calf that they made at Mt. Sinai.
In other words, the goat that Klal Yisroel had to bring as a sin offering, corresponded to the infamous goat that Yosef's brothers killed in order to stain Yosef's coat with blood. The calf that Klal Yisroel had to bring, was in order to do Teshuva [atone] for the incident with the Golden Calf at Mt. Sinai.
It is easy to understand why this was an appropriate forum to bring an atonement for the sin of the Golden Calf. Even if, as the commentaries explain, the sin of the Golden Calf did not involve actual idolatry, they were still looking for an intermediary -- there was a clear sin. Therefore, at a time when Klal Yisroel was building a Mishkan and the Divine Presence was about to descend to them, it was incumbent upon them to do Teshuva for a sin that was diametrically opposed to the loyalty necessary to merit having the Divine Presence in their midst.
However, requiring Klal Yisroel to bring an atonement for the sale of Yosef at the time of the building of the Mishkan is not something that is so readily understandable. Why specifically at this time, should the Jews have to bring a Kapara [atonement] for the sale of Yosef?
The Yalkut Yehudah wants to explain the connection as follows: The underlying sin of the sale of Yosef was jealousy between brothers. The brothers resented the fact that Yaakov Avinu seemed to favor Yosef over them. Their sin was one of Kin'ah -- Jealousy. They were jealous of the fact that Yosef was special, acted special and was treated as if he was special.
Now, in Parshas Sh'mini, at the time that the Mishkan is being built, what is about to happen? One family in Klal Yisroel is going to be elevated to a special status. There is going to be a tribe called Leviim, and out of that tribe called Leviim is going to be a family called Kohanim -- and they are going to be special. They are going to do the Avodah [Service] in the Mishkan. They are going to offer the sacrifices. They are going to get the special Priestly Gifts. They are going to be treated special.
Lest we think that this was not a thorn in the side of the Jewish people, we must remember Parshas Korach. In Parshas Korach, a person stood up and protested: "The entire Congregation is holy! Why, Moshe, do you think that just your family deserves special treatment?" A miracle from Heaven was required to put down that rebellion!
Therefore, at the beginning of the Mishkan, it was very appropriate to do Teshuva and to have a Kapara for the sale of Yosef. It was an appropriate time to remember that in Klal Yisroel we have distinct roles. There are roles for Kohanim; there are roles for Leviim; there are roles for men; there are roles for women. We have to get that straight and learn to accept it! Not everyone is alike. Not everyone has the same strengths. Not everyone is going to have the same job. Not everyone is going to get the same benefits.
That is why Klal Yisroel was told to bring a goat as a sin offering before they could have the Mishkan and G-d's Divine Presence in their midst. Klal Yisroel needed to do Teshuva for the sale of Yosef. For a Jewish Nation to work -- for any team to work -- there has to be a division of labor. That is the only way to bring the Divine Presence to our midst.
Sin of the Golden Calf "Qualifies" Aharon to be Kohen Gadol
The pasuk continues with the other instructions that Moshe Rabbenu gave to Aharon. Moshe instructs Aharon everything that he needed to do [Vayikra 9:2-4]. Then the pasuk [verse] says [9:7] "And Moshe tells Aharon, 'Draw near to the altar and offer...'" What is Moshe telling Aharon? Did Aharon not understand the earlier instructions regarding what he is supposed to do? What happened? Why did Aharon hesitate? Why did he need this second encouragement of 'Draw near to the altar...'?
The Torah Kohanim addresses this issue as well. The Toras Kohanim says that Aharon saw the altar appear to him in the shape of an ox, and he was afraid of it. The Ramba"n explains the Medrash to mean that Aharon, because of the Tzadik [righteous person] that he was, was hesitant to approach the altar. Aharon said, "How can I approach the altar? I too have a skeleton in my closet. I too participated in the Sin of the Golden Calf". The Toras Kohanim then says that Moshe responded to Aharon, "My brother, you are afraid of that? You, of all people, don't have to be afraid of the ox". That is why it is written "Draw near to the altar".
The Toras Kohanim, however, does not state why Aharon should not be afraid of the image of the ox. What did Moshe tell him? The Yalkut Yehudah gives the following explanation:
The Medrash in Vayikra Rabbah gives the reason why Aharon participated with the Golden Calf and made the image. A zealot would have said "Chas v'sholom! -- Let the letter of the law pierce through the mountain!" Why, in fact, did Aharon make the Golden Calf?
According to Vayikra Rabbah, Aharon reasoned "If I let them build the calf, they will be blamed for it; better I should be blamed for it than the Jewish people be blamed for it. Better that I should have the sin." The Medrash says, G-d told Aharon "Your love for the Jewish people was such that you were willing to sacrifice your righteousness to save them, therefore you will be anointed as the High Priest". Precisely because of the self-sacrifice, that he was willing to give up his Olam Haba for Klal Yisroel, that is why he deserved to be the Kohen Gadol. The person who is to be the leader of the Jewish people must be selfless, must think of the Klal before he thinks of himself.
This is what Moshe told Aharon. "My brother, you are afraid of the incident with the Golden Calf? That incident is precisely why you were chosen to be the Kohen Gadol, so draw near to the altar."
Glossary
Chanukas HaBayis -- Dedication of the House
Kin'ah -- Jealousy
Avodah -- Temple Service
Mishkan -- Tabernacle
Teshuva & Kapara -- Repentance & Atonement
Klal (Yisroel) -- (The Jewish) Nation
Kohen Gadol -- High Priest
Personalities & Sources:
Toras Kohanim
-- Halachic Medrash on the book of Vayikra
Vayikra Rabbah -- Aggadic Medrash on the book of Vayikra
Yalkut Yehudah -- R. Yehudah Leib Ginzberg; Breslav, Russia and later
Denver, Colorado (early 20th century).
This week's write-up is adapted from the hashkafa portion of Rabbi Yissochar Frand's Commuter Chavrusah Torah Tapes on the weekly Torah portion (#3). The corresponding halachic portion for this tape is: #6 is: The Insects in Vegetable Controversy. The other halachic portions for Parshas Shemini from the Commuter Chavrusah Series are:
Tapes or a complete catalogue can be ordered from:
Yad Yechiel Institute
PO Box 511
Owings Mills, MD 21117-0511
Call (410) 358-0416 for further information.
Also Available: Mesorah / Artscroll has published a collection of Rabbi Frand's essays. The book is entitled:
and is available through Project Genesis On-Line Bookstore: http://books.torah.org/
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