At the beginning of the parsha, the Torah gives Aharon the mitzvah of kindling the lights of the Menorah in the Mishkan. Rashi here asks why this mitzvah immediately follows that of the offerings of the Princes at the end of Parshas Naso. Rashi answers that when Aharon witnessed the offerings of all the Princes, he became depressed that neither he nor his Tribe were included in that dedication ceremony. Rashi says that Hashem therefore consoled Aharon, by telling him, “I swear, your portion is greater than theirs—you will kindle the Menorah”.
Rashi says, as it were, that Hashem gave Aharon a consolation prize. He did not have the opportunity to participate in the Mishkan dedication with the other Princes, but he would have an opportunity for an even greater privilege.
The Ramban explains that this alludes to the Menorah lit in each generation by all Jews to commemorate the Chanukah story, in which Aharon’s descendants played a major role. There are many things to comment on this Rashi, but I once heard an interesting insight from the Rosh Yeshiva [of Ner Yisroel in Baltimore], Rav Yaakov Weinberg, Shlita.
Aharon was supposedly depressed because the dedication of the Mishkan did not include him or his tribe. However, who was the titular head of the Tribe of Levi? Seemingly, the head of the tribe was Moshe Rabbeinu, not Aharon. Moshe was the head of all of Israel; he was a greater Novi than Aharon, so he was clearly the official leader of the Tribe of Levi.
So who should get depressed here? If anyone, Moshe should have been depressed. Aharon is the head of the Kohanim, who are only a subset of Shevet Levi. Yet it was he who felt depressed at the fact that the Leviim were not represented at the dedication. Why not Moshe Rabbeinu?
Rav Weinberg explained that Moshe Rabbeinu, by becoming the leader of all Israel, was no longer a member of the Tribe of Levi. When someone is the leader of the generation, he loses his provincial and parochial interests. He is no longer Shevet Levi; he is the ‘Am’—the People. He embodies the Nation—Reuvain, Shimeon, Yehudah, Dan, everyone!
For example, l’havdil, the President of the United States no longer represents his home state—that is the job of the Governor. The President has gone on to achieve greater honor and higher office. The President can no longer be a Texan or a New Yorker or a Marylander—he must represent all the people.
That is the distinction between Aharon and Moshe. Moshe, by becoming the Rabbi of Israel, ceased to be merely a Levi. He left behind any personal interests and biases and became the representative of the entire nation.
