By Rabbi Reuven Semah
Rabbi Shimon Finkelman tells a true story. It happened on a Friday night in the home of Rav and Rebbetzin Chaim Kanievsky zt”l. After the seudah was over, as one of their guests was helping to clear the table, in his haste he dropped a dish and it shattered. The young man felt terrible. Seeing this, Rav Chaim said a Dvar Torah that he hoped would calm him.
Why must the Torah tell us that when Aharon lit the Menorah he did exactly as Moshe told him in the Name of Hashem? Would we have thought any differently had the Torah not told us this?
Hassidim answer that Aharon was surely very eager to perform the lighting of the Menorah. But despite his eagerness, he was in full control of himself and did not do the misvah in haste. He performed the lighting slowly and carefully from start to finish, so that not one drop of oil spilled from the vessel as he was carrying it to the Menorah.
“So, you see,” said Rav Chaim, “Aharon’s self-control was the exception to the rule. The average person who is overcome with emotion as he begins to perform a misvah might not be able to control himself to that degree. He might very well spill some oil. People who are eager to help clean up are also not always in full control, because they are excited to help out. So don’t feel bad that a dish broke.”
With these kind words, Rav Chaim succeeded in calming his guest.
