Shemini- Gaining (Productive) Perspective
For this year of Parsha Lesson, I will be focusing on one area of character growth, to think about in the week ahead and the benefits that a person would have from becoming better in that area.
Background
At the beginning of this week’s Parsha, the Torah tells us of the first day of Aharon’s being appointed as the Kohen Gadol (High Priest). The Torah says that Moshe first gathered together the elders of the Jewish people, along with Aharon, and told them of Hashem’s command that Aharon will serve as the Kohen Gadol, leading and directing the service in the Mishkan (temporary Temple until the building of the Beis HaMikdash). After that, the entire Jewish nation gathered together to watch the service of Hashem- which would finally bring the Shechina (Hashem’s presence) to rest amongst the Jewish people.
Rashi explains that when it came time for Aharon to lead the service, Aharon was hesitant and ‘embarrassed’ to step up and take over as the Kohen Gadol. Obviously, this embarrassment was stemming from a good and proper place, of Aharon understanding the magnitude of what it meant to be appointed as the Kohen Gadol.
Moshe then spoke to Aharon and encouraged him to come forward, by telling him ‘Aharon, come- for it is for this that you were chosen.’ This encouragement was successful and Aharon proceeded to do the service in the Mishkan.
Question
Aharon was rightfully embarrassed and hesitant to take on such an awesome role as being the Kohen Gadol. Aharon knew that Hashem chose him, yet he was embarrassed at being chosen for such a position from all of the Jewish people.
What was Moshe telling him that would assuage this embarrassment? All Moshe said was ‘..for this you were chosen.’ Which Aharon knew, and which did not help Aharon to not be embarrassed before Moshe said it! So what did Moshe telling Aharon ‘...for this you were chosen’ help to encourage Aharon to step forward and do the service?
Answer
Yes, Aharon knew that Hashem chose him to be the Kohen Gadol. Nevertheless, Aharon was rightfully embarrassed at having been appointed to such a prestigious position of leadership of the Jewish nation. But that is only one perspective. A perspective which at that moment was impeding Aharon’s ability to do what was incumbent on him to do- step up and commence the service of the Mishkan.
Moshe was telling Aharon- my brother, now is the time to focus in on a different aspect and adopt a different perspective: Hashem chose you for this job. You, Aharon, are THE person for the job, the creator of the world, whom the service of the Mishkan is for, chose YOU to do this service. Therefore, you should step up confidently and not be embarrassed.
Lesson
R’ Henoch Leibowitz z”l (Rosh HaYeshiva of Yeshiva Chofetz Chaim 1941-2008) observed that we learn a great lesson from here: the importance and the power of having the proper perspective. With the right perspective a person is able to do great things that they would be unable to do without the correct perspective.
In addition, everyone needs strengthening in the area of gaining perspective. Even a great person like Aharon could at times not have the proper perspective and therefore not be able to do what they are supposed to!
What is the solution? Not necessarily hearing anything new or insightful. Rather, all a person needs at times is to focus one’s self in on the perspective which is necessary to be focused on to be successful. The correct perspective is not necessarily any more true than the incorrect perspective. In this situation Aharon was correct to be embarrassed of having been chosen for such prestige. However, at the same time, Hashem did choose him and therefore he should proceed with confidence.
What makes one perspective ‘correct’ and another ‘incorrect’ is how it effects a person’s ability to do the right thing. At the same time it is true that a person could be critical of their low behavior and also be a great person who does great thing. Which perspective should a person focus on? The one which leads to a person being inspired and encouraged to do good actions with happiness and energy.
Again, not to say that one is the truth and the other is false, it is just that one is productive and helpful to the person and the other can be damaging and harmful.
Benefits of this…
Once a person realizes that their perspective has such sway over their ability to act and do the right thing, a person will be motivated to develop the proper, healthy perspectives needed to be successful in life.
It is true, that a person should be able to do everything perfectly all of the time and that any slight mess-up is a cataclysmic disaster. But such a perspective would, for most people, be wholly unsuccessful in a person being able to actually behave the right way, more of the time.
By focusing in on the amazing accomplishments that a person has accumulated, and by really appreciating and enjoying one’s successes, most people would be more energized and encouraged to do the right thing, more of the time. Hence this would be- for most people- the proper perspective to maintain generally.
And of course, with all of the myriad different situations that people find themselves in and must contend with in life, there are multiple, honest perspectives to focus in on at any given moment. It is up to us to choose which one will be best for us.
Wishing you and your family a wonderful Shabbos!
