When Aaron’s priesthood was contested by Korach, the final sign that testified that the priesthood indeed belongs to Aaron and his descendants after him was, “the man whom I shall choose, his staff will blossom.” The words, “his staff will blossom” (חַרְפִּיהוֵּטַמ) has the same numerical value, the same gematria, as Mashiach (ַיחִׁשָּמ). There are two similar sounding titles, “the anointed priest” (ןֵהֹכַּהַיחִׁשָּמַה), which in Hebrew literally means, “the Mashiach, the priest” and the actual Mashiach, the Mashiach son of David, who is not a priest since he must be from the tribe of Judah.
Indeed, it is forbidden to cross the boundary between priest and king—the Mashiach is a king—and between king and priest. One who tried to cross this boundary was King Uzziah, who thought since he was king, he also deserved to be the high priest, until leprosy broke out on his forehead. The priests also tried once to be kings: the brave Hasmoneans. At first, it seemed to be going well, but later, it deteriorated, and their rule became corrupt. In any case, there is a definitive connection between the anointed priest and the actual Mashiach, Mashiach son of David. They also have common traits.
Aaron’s Ability to Elevate Souls
Why indeed did God choose Aaron over anyone else, even over Korach who was wise, wealthy, and of the choicest pedigree? It is written that Aaron is the “bridal escort” (אִיתִנֹרוְטַמְּא דָינִבְׁשֹוׁש). Regarding the lighting of the Menorah in the Tabernacle, we read that, “when you light the lamps” (תֹרוֵּנַת הֶ אָךְתֹלֲעַהְּב) and Rashi brings in the name of the sages that you should light them, “until the flame rises up on its own.” Aaron, as the bridal escort, the chaperone of the Jewish people—God’s bride—is tasked with lighting “God’s lamp—the soul of man”; he is tasked with igniting the souls of the Jewish people. In all, there are seven categories of souls that must “give light, toward the face of the Menorah.” To be ignited with a flame, means to be brought to a state of loving God “with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might” (ָךֶדֹאְל מָכְבּ וָךְׁשְפַל נָכְבּ וָךְבָבְל לָכְּבּ), which has the same value as “flame” (תֶבֶהְלַׁש).
The one capable of elevating the candles with the flame of God’s love—and “there is no service like the service of love”— is Aaron and he is “the man whom I shall choose.” It appears that Korach, with all his wisdom and all his money, does not help to elevate the souls of Israel to a state where their love for God, “rises up on its own.”
Many things can be done with Korach’s wealth; even the Mashiach needs Korach’s wealth, and being wise is very important, one needs to be very smart, wise. But being able to arouse souls to love God is independent of wealth and wisdom.
The Power to Awaken in the Mashiach
The Mashiach, son of David, though not a priest, requires this same ability. He is the one who reveals “a new Torah will come forth from Me” (הָׁשָדֲה חָרֹוּת אֵצֵּי תִּאֵמ). But he needs to do more than that. He needs use the power of the new Torah of Mashiach to stir the people of Israel, “until the flame rises up on its own.”
What does this mean? The flame, i.e., the soul, rising on its own signifies that each person acts on their own strength, on their own abilities, to the point where “no longer will one individual teach another, or a brother say to his brother, ‘Know God,’ for all will know Me, from the least of them to the greatest.”
This is the special power of the new Torah of the Mashiach, that will cause every person to know God on their own, the meaning of “Until the flame rises up on its own,” alluding to both the flame of the heart and the flame of the intellect. This is the secret of “the flame of Kah” (-הָיְתֶבֶהְלַׁש).
God commanded Adam and Eve, “Be fruitful and multiply.” There are several interpretations to how to apply this verse in practice. First, there is the plain meaning, which is to have children. But the Alter Rebbe explains that this also means that a Jew must make another Jew, meaning, he should make ba’alei teshuvah. A third interpretation is offered by the Rebbe of Komarna, who says that this implies the innovation of new Torah insights by every individual.
It is the Mashiach who will encourage us all to make innovations in Torah, thereby exercising our love of God in a state of “the flame rises up on its own.” That man who can elevate the flame of every soul is “the man whom I shall choose”—both to be a priest and to be a king – and his staff “will blossom.”
