That is Aaron and Moses, to whom the Lord said, “Take the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt with their legions.”Ex. 6:26
They are the ones who spoke to Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, to let the children of Israel out of Egypt; they are Moses and Aaron. Ex. 6:27
In Torah portion Vaera, God reveals himself to Moses and instructs him to bring the Israelite slaves out of Egypt. God appoints Moses’ older brother Aaron to help him fulfill this monumental mission.
Sometimes in the Torah Aaron is mentioned before Moses, and at other times Moses is mentioned first. According to Rashi, this teaches that both men are of equal significance. This conclusion is perplexing. Aaron, the “man of peace,” was certainly an exceedingly wise and righteous individual. But Moses was the greatest prophet who ever lived, as we know from the third-to-last line in the Torah: “And there was no other prophet who arose in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face.” (Deut. 34:10) How can it be said that Aaron was as great as Moses?
To answer this question, Rabbi Benjamin Rose brings down a teaching from Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, one of the greatest Jewish sages of the last century. Rabbi Feinstein explains that Moses is indeed greater than Aaron, but the brothers are of equal significance because each lives up to his potential. God put every one of us in this world to accomplish our own special and unique mission. Some people’s mission brings fame and glory while others fulfill their purpose in a more quiet and humble way. Both Moses and Aaron fulfilled their holy missions and lived up to their potential, so in a sense they were indeed equally great.
A famous story is told of Zusha of Hanipol, a saintly Hasidic rabbi, who was crying on his deathbed. His devoted students reassured him that his many righteous deeds would surely bring him a great reward in heaven. Zusha answered them, “I’m afraid because when I pass from this world and appear before the Heavenly Tribunal, they won’t ask me, ‘Zusha why weren’t you as wise as Moses or as kind as Abraham?’ I’m afraid I will be asked, ‘Zusha, why weren’t you more like Zusha?’”
May we each live up to our God-given potential and be authentically ourselves in the best possible way!
Image: “Moses and Aaron with the Ten Commandments” by Aron de Chaves at the Spanish & Portuguese Synagogue in London.
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