The Avos D’Rav Nasson echoes this same theme. When Aharon dies, the pasuk tells us that the entire House of Israel (implying men and women) mourned. But when Moshe dies, the verse states that the Children of Israel (implying the men only) mourned. The relationship between Klal Yisroel and Moshe Rabbenu was not the same as that between Aharon and Klal Yisroel. Moshe had to give mussar, had to set the people straight, had to issue uncompromising judgments.
Aharon, however, never criticized. He was a peacemaker who was beloved by everyone. Aharon would greet wicked people with a smile. He did not spit or throw stones. He said “Good Morning.” The response of the wicked often was, “How can I continue to sin? It will distress Aharon.” The Medrash declares that in this way “he caused many people to repent from doing evil.” He caused them to repent, not through anger or disgust, but with Shalom. That is how he was so successful.
Mr. Harry Wolpert, a long-time supporter of Torah causes in Baltimore, had been a student of Rabbi Baruch Ber Lebovitz, the Kaminetzer Rosh Yeshiva. When Mr. Wolpert came to Baltimore in the early 1900s, he was faced time and time again with the nisayon of Chillul Shabbos. Today, we don’t have to face the common practice of those years — “If you don’t come in on Saturday, don’t bother coming Monday.” Mr. Wolpert related that he was faced with this temptation many times when he needed to support his wife and children. What stopped him was the image of his Rebbe, Reb Baruch Ber. Reb Baruch Ber was known as a Rebbe who loved his students. Each student was cherished by him. This love shown to a student was what stopped Mr. Wolpert from becoming a Mechalel Shabbos.
