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Brothers don’t always achieve an equal measure of notoriety. Take the case of Dom DiMaggio. A splendid ball player who was one of the greatest fielders of his era – as well as a good hitter – his years with the Red Sox were overshadowed by big brother Joe’s accomplishments, including nine World Series rings. Wonder what Dom thought when Paul Simon plaintively asked, “Where have you gone, Joe DiMaggio?” in his song “Mrs. Robinson.” Or when his brother married Marilyn Monroe. Indications are that the two always got along well despite the inequality, and Joe in fact argued – unsuccessfully – for Dom’s inclusion in the Baseball Hall of Fame.
The brothers Moses and Aaron have the same “Dom-Joe” relationship between them in the Torah. But like the DiMaggio’s, every once in a while, the “other” brother comes out on top. In our portion, Shemini, we have an example of that phenomenon.
In Leviticus 10:17-18, we read that Moses became angry with Aaron and his sons for not consuming the sacrificial offerings: “Why did you not eat the sin offering in the sacred area? For it is most holy, and it is what was given to you to remove the guilt of the community and to make expiation for the people before G-d. Since its blood was not brought inside the sanctuary, you should certainly have eaten it in the sanctuary, as I commanded.” But Aaron reminds Moses that on this day, he lost two of his sons, Nadav and Abihu, meaning that he and his family were mourners. As such, they were forbidden to consume the sacrifice.
Strikingly, Moses concedes his brother’s point, as we read in the 8th century midrash Avot d’Rabbi Natan (37:12):
“Then Aaron spoke…see, this day they brought their sin offering and their burnt offering.” But Aaron was quiet until Moses had finished speaking, and he did not tell Moses to cut his words short. Only afterward did he say to Moses, “See, this day my two remaining sons brought their sin offering and their burnt offering,” but we are in mourning [and cannot eat of the offerings]. And some say that Aaron pulled Moses aside and said to him, “Moses my brother, tithes are the least important of the offerings, and it is still forbidden for a mourner to eat them. A sin offering is the most important of the offerings, so all the more so is it forbidden for a mourner to eat it! Immediately, Moses admitted that [Aaron] was right, as it says (Leviticus 10:20), “And when Moses heard this, it was good in his eyes.”
Aaron may not have been as great as Moses, but as far as we the Jewish people are concerned – he needs to be in the Hall of Fame with his brother.
- Rabbi Scott Hoffman
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