Weekly Torah Portion

The story is told of the Satmar Rebbe who, following the Holocaust, began to give a class in Talmud in New York. Week after week people came for the class, but were confused to see the rabbi only asking everyone about their general welfare and checking in with them.

Finally, after a few weeks someone had the courage to ask why the group had not started studying yet. The rabbi replied: “Before we can start learning daf Bet (the page Talmud typically begins on), we have to learn daf Aleph (page one), referring to the importance of checking in with each and every person attending the class and seeing how they are doing.”

This week’s Torah portion begins with the commandment to light the Menorah in the Temple. Aharon the High Priest was given the honor to light the Menorah. In explaining this, the Torah says that Aharon did exactly what he was commanded to do.

Rashi comments that Aharon did not deviate at all from the required process. Rebbe Meir of Permishlan asks why it was noteworthy that Aharon did not deviate from what he was commanded to do? We would expect Aharon to do what he was commanded!

The answer can be understood when we take a deeper look at who Aharon was. The commentaries tell us that besides for his duties in the Temple, his chief responsibility was to make peace between his brethren. If he knew of two people quarreling he would not rest until they made up. This required interacting with the “common folk” on a daily basis.

While he had important work to do in the Temple he made time to make his rounds and talk for hours with people about their challenges and struggles. When the Torah says he did not deviate, it was not just referring to the way he lit the Menorah. It was referring to how he interacted with the people.

After being appointed to light the Menorah, which was a tremendous honor, it would have been quite easy to take a step back, and only be available by appointment or through several layers of bureaucracy. Aharon did not deviate even the slightest from how approachable he used to be before receiving this great honor.

In a world chasing likes and followers this idea is so relevant. Let us take the message from Aharon and realize that no matter what we have achieved or the status we have attained, the way we interact with others should remain the same. Caring for others must come before the “important things” we need to accomplish.