Aharon Hakohen ascended Mount Hor, as commanded by Hashem, and died there in the fortieth year after the Jewish people left the land of Egypt. It was in the fifth month, on the first day of the month. (Bemidbar 33:38)
It says in the parshah that Aharon Hakohen passed away on Rosh Chodesh Av, which falls this coming week.
This might sound like a relatively minor detail, but actually it is quite a remarkable statement. Nowhere else in the Torah are we told the specific date on which a tzaddik died. Only Aharon Hakohe n’s yahrzeit is stated in the Torah. In fact, it says in the Tu r that it is permitted to fast on this yahrzeit, even though it is Rosh Chodesh, and it is even praiseworthy to do so, as it is a ta’anis tzaddikim.
Why is Aharon’s death mentioned in such a special way? Perhaps because he was the great Rav of ahavas shalom and of redifas shalom, of loving peace and pursuing peace, so the day of his passing is a time of crying and sorrow for all generations. There is no sorrow like the death of someone who brings peace to the world.
Chazal taught us emphatically:
Be a disciple of Aharon, loving peace and pursuing peace.
The first and foremost thing we need is a Rav who teaches us to love shalom. This is because too many people have a predilection for conflicts and fights. When there is peace, everything is so quiet and boring. But when a good, juicy controversy arises, it brings interesting experiences, and life is more varied.
Not only that, but at times of peace, many people just blend into the background and don’t stand out. You don’t see them or hear them. But when there is a controversy, they become conspicuous and have an opportunity to voice their opinions.
Let’s admit it: too many people enjoy a good machlokes. This is why we need a great Rav like Aharon to teach us to love shalom, and only then will we take practical steps to pursue shalom.
This may be compared to a child who came upon a big fire threatening to engulf an entire apartment building. He watches the intense efforts of the fire fighters climbing up and down high ladders, saving people, spraying water. He stands there mesmerized by the sight. It is even more exciting if he himself helps in the rescue efforts, and people see what he is doing and applaud him.
After such an experience, he can’t wait for another giant fire like this to take place. He might even be tempted to set a house on fire, in order to go through another great experience like this, even if it might cause a tragedy, chas v’shalom. He is thus in desperate need of someone to teach him not to love fires and not to be a pyromaniac.
This is what Aharon would teach people. He taught them to love “boring” peace and hate “exciting” machlokes.
The day Aharon passed away is thus a time of sorrow and weeping for all generations. We need to remember what Aharon taught, and know that even if fights look fun and exciting, they are nothing but a curse and a disaster. And peace brings everything good.
1 Orach Chayim 580.
2 Avos 1:12.
