Born: Egypt, 2365 (1406 BCE.) / Niftar: Hor HaHar, 1st of Av 2488 (1283 BCE.) Prophet, brother of Moshe Rabbeinu and Miriam the Prophetess, the first Kohen Gadol (High Priest). The chariot for the Sefirah of Hod.
The Arizal says that Aharon HaKohen, was Haran (brother of Avraham Avinu) in his previous life. Haran (same letters as Aharon, without the Alef) had to correct an element of idol worship committed by Adam, but he failed. As Aharon he should have also sacrificed his life, like Chur ben Miriam did, in order to stop the sin of the Golden Calf from taking place, in order to do a correction concerning idol worship. Mistakenly, he thought that Chur's death accomplished that. (Sha'ar HaGilgulim page 95, 114)
Though all of his intentions had been pure, trying only to hold off the Erev Rav (Mixed Multitude) long enough to give Moshe a chance to return to the camp and restore order, still, it had been his hand that had worked the gold. Aharon HaKohen was to be punished for his mistakenly losing all his four sons. Moshe prayed for him and succeeded in saving two of them.
Aharon was later reincarnated as Yaabetz HaShofet, Tula ben Puah HaShofet, Shmuel HaNavi, Aviyah son of King Yerovam, Uriah HaKohen, and Zechariah HaNavi. Aharon's wife Elisheva was later reincarnated as Batsheva, the soul mate of Dovid HaMelech.
- He loved peace and pursued it, loved people and drew them close to the Torah (Avos 1:12);
- Aharon never said to a man or woman, "You have sinned". When Aharon went on his way and a wicked person encountered him, Aaron greeted him. The next day, that man wanted to commit a sin, but thought, "Woe is to me! How will I raise my eyes afterwards and look at Aharon? I am ashamed before him, for he greeted me" (Avos d' Rav Nasan 12:3).
- When two people quarreled Aharon went and sat down with one of them and said to him, "My son, know that your friend has said, 'I am ashamed before him because I have sinned against him.' " Aaron would sit with him until he had dispelled the ill feeling from his heart.
- Aharon made peace between husband and wife so that they came together, and they named the child that was born after him.
- Aharon tied a rope of iron about his waist and went around to all the houses of Bnei Yisrael to teach Krias Shema and prayer.