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Parshat Titzave 5769Rabbi Ari Kahn
The Selection of Aharon
In numerous places in this week's Parsha, we are told of theascension of Aharon to the exalted role of Kohen - even
Kohen Gadol
(High Priest). Moshe is commanded to performvarious actions in order to bring about this change of statusand to elevate Aharon to his lofty new station.
חכ קרפ תומש רפס
לֵאָרְשִי יֵנְב ְךותִמ ותִא יָנָב ֶאְ ָךיִח ןֹרֲה ֶא ָךיֶלֵא ֵרְקַה הָתְ )א(יֵדְגִ ָיִשָעְ )( :ןֹרֲה יֵנְב רָמָיִאְ רָזָעְלֶא אהיִֲאַ ָדָנ ןֹרֲה יִל ונֲהַכְל:ֶרְפִְל דוָכְל ָךיִח ןֹרֲהְל ֶדֹק
1. And take to you Aharon your brother, and his sonswith him, from among the People of Israel, that he mayminister to Me in the priest’s office; Aharon, Nadav andAvihu, Elazar and Itamar, Aharon’s sons. 2. And youshall make holy garments for Aharon your brother forglory and for beauty. Sh’mot 28:1,2
טכ קרפ תומש רפס
רָקָב ןֶב דָחֶא רַ חַקְל יִל ןֵהַכְל םָֹא ֵַקְל םֶהָל הֶשֲעַת רֶֲא רָָַה הֶזְ )א(:םִמיִמְת םִיַנְ םִליֵאְ
1. And this is the thing that you shall do to them tohallow them, to minister to Me in the priest’s office; Take one young bull, and two rams without blemish,Sh’mot 29:1
טכ קרפ תומש רפס
ןֵהַכְל ֵַקֲא יָנָב ֶאְ ןֹרֲה ֶאְ ַחֵבְזִַה ֶאְ דֵעומ לֶהֹא ֶא יִתְַִקְ )דמ(:יִל
44. And I will sanctify the Tent of Meeting, and the altar;I will sanctify also both Aharon and his sons, to ministerto Me in the priest’s office. Sh’mot 29:44 There is one piece of information missing: How did Aharonmerit this honor? What did Aharon do that made him worthy
1
 
of being proclaimed Kohen? No explanation is offered, no justification given. This question must be addressed in the aftermath of ourdiscussion regarding the chronological versus thephilosophical order of events in these Parshiot.
1
In hiscomments, Rashi indicates that the sections of Parshiot Terumah and Tetzaveh that discuss the building of the
Mishkan
(Tabernacle or Sanctuary) actually occur after thesin of the Golden Calf. If this is the case, our questionregarding the selection of Aharon as Kohen Gadol mustnecessarily be reconsidered. As in the discussion of thebuilding of the
Mishkan
itself, there are two possibilities:Either the elevation of Aharon was commanded prior to thesin of the Golden calf, or his selection and installation asKohen took place after the sin of the Golden Calf. Clearly,each scenario will offer different perspectives on the rolethat Aharon filled, and therefore of the skills, traits andactions that made Aharon the right man for the job.Either possibility leaves us with difficult questions: If theselection took place prior to the sin of the Golden Calf, whywas he chosen? In what way did Aharon distinguish himself as a spiritual leader? On the other hand, if the selection wasmade only after the sin (meaning that the text of the Torahdoes not transmit the events in accurate chronologicalsequence), Aharon’s role in this debacle should surely haveprecluded such an appointment. If he was chosen - forwhatever reason - before this enormous sin, why was heretained as Kohen subsequent to the sin? Shouldn’t hisparticipation in the sin of the Golden Calf have disqualifiedhim for this role?When considering the role now bestowed upon Aharon andhis descendents, an additional, related question should beasked first: Why were the first-born replaced? In Egypt, Godcommanded the Israelites to “sanctify to Me every first-born”
2
. What did the first-born sons do that caused a forfeit
1
See last week’s notes on Parshat Terumah.
2
Shmot 13:2
2
 
of their role, resulting in their replacement as ministers toGod in the performance of the tasks now assumed by Aharonand his sons? Perhaps we should broaden the canvas of ourinquiry and examine more generally the preferred status of the Tribe of Levi. Why and when was the Tribe of Levi setapart from among the other tribes for their role of divineservice? There are a few possible explanations which can bemined beneath the surface of the biblical text.
Yaakov's Vow
 The Targum (Pseudo) Yonatan offers a fascinating insight tothe selection of Levi. We are brought back to a much earlierscene: Yaakov was on the run from his bloodthirsty brotherEsav. He spent a night under the stars and saw a ladderreaching up to heaven. When he awoke he made a vow:
חכ קרפ תישארב רפס
יִל ןֶתִת רֶֲא לֹכְ םיִהֹלֱא יֵב הֶיְהִי הָֵצַמ יִתְמַש רֶֲא אֹַה ןֶֶאָהְ )כ(:ְךָל ֶרְַעֲא רֵַע
22. And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall beGod’s house; and of all that You shall give me I willsurely give the tenth to You. Bereishit 28:22When Yaakov invents the concept of 
ma’asrot 
, vowing one-tenth of his possessions to God, what was included? Ourassumption is that this would include all his material wealth:money earned, possessions acquired, produce grown.According to the Targum, it includes much more. In fact, itincludes everything – even the children who would be born! The years pass. Yaakov lives with Lavan, and he issuccessful. When the time comes for Yaakov to return toIsrael, he again has a memorable nocturnal experience; thistime Yaakov is accosted by a mysterious assailant. Accordingto the Targum (Pseudo) Yonatan, this assailant is an angelsent by God, who has a complaint: Yaakov has had morethan 10 children, and he has been remiss. When will he keephis word, fulfill his vow, and set aside one in ten for God?According to The Targum, a count takes place then and
3
of 00

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