The Mishnah says (Avos 1:12): “Be among the disciples of Aharon – loving peace and pursuing peace, loving people and bringing them closer to Torah.” Chazal ask (Avos D’Rebbe Nosson): “And what was the character trait of Aharon that such was said about him?” Our Rabbis said: When two people had a quarrel with each other, Aharon would go to one of them and say, “I saw your friend so-and-so, his heart torn within him, and he is weeping bitterly and saying, ‘Woe to me for what I said to my friend. How can I lift my eyes to face him and see him? I am ashamed and also humiliated, for I am the one who wronged him.’” And Aharon would speak to his heart until he would remove the jealousy and anger from his heart. Afterwards, Aharon would go and sit with the second person and likewise speak to his heart until he would remove the jealousy from his heart. In time, they would meet one another, kiss each other, and make peace between them.
Our parasha tells of what occurred in the desert against Moshe Rabeinu. What was the protest about? About the manna! They did not want to eat only manna; they wanted cucumbers, watermelons, onions, and so forth. כזרע והמן’, ‘עינינו המן אל בלתי...יבשה נפשנו ועתה’ הבדולח כעין ועינו הוא גד’ - “And now our soul is dry... there is nothing at all, besides the manna before our eyes,” “And the manna was like coriander seed, and its appearance was like the appearance of crystal.” (11:6-7) Rashi explains: “The one who said this did not say that.” Israel says, “there is nothing at all, besides the manna before our eyes,” and HaKadosh Baruch Hu dictated in the Torah, “And the manna was like coriander seed,” etc., meaning: Let the people of the world see what My children are complaining about – and yet, the manna is so significant.
From contemplating Rashi’s words, we discover something wondrous: Despite all the ingratitude of Israel, still HaKadosh Baruch Hu calls them “My children.” This teaches us the greatness of His love for us. And in this matter, each of us can be among the disciples of Aharon HaKhen, for a Jew may think: After all that I have sinned and transgressed, chas v’shalom, HaKadosh baruch hu hates me and no longer wants my tefillah or my Torah. But it has already been decided in halacha according to the view of Rabbi Meir, who said (Kiddushin 36a): “You are children to Hashem, your G-d – whether so or so, you are called children,” meaning even when they do not fulfill the will of the Omnipresent. And if we remind ourselves and others of this, we act like Aharon HaKohen, and we awaken the love of HaKadosh Baruch hu in our hearts, and we draw Israel, including ourselves, closer to our Father in Heaven.
- Tiv HaTorah – Beha’aloscha
