Moshe’s name was not mentioned last week in Tetzaveh.
This week, when he defended the Jews after the sin of the Golden Calf, he told Hashem, “If you don’t forgive the Jews, please erase me from Your book.”
Some say we did not want the year to go by without his words being honored, so he is not mentioned in the last parsha before this one.
However, though Moshe’s name wasn’t mentioned, he actually was referenced in the Parsha. This time, however, he was called, “You.”
Because he had negated himself for Klal Yisrael, he moved up from third-person to second-person.
Similarly, explains the Haamek Davar, Aharon was originally a kohain just like his children. He was only the Kohain “Gadol,” the BIG Kohain, because he was older.
However, with the Golden Calf, Aharon put himself on the line, body and soul, to protect the Jews. It’s like the parable where the prince was breaking the windows of the palace and a minister took the club and said, “Let me do it for you.” The king understood the minister was protecting his son and elevated him.
Because of his willingness to sacrifice himself for the Jewish people, Aharon deserved the title Kohain Gadol, and was elevated above his children who were merely appointed.
