"Vayomer Moshe el Aharon, krav el hamizbeach . . . " Leviticus 9:5
"And Moshe said to Aharon, approach the altar..."
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Rashi teaches that Aharon was both embarrassed and fearful to approach the
altar. Seeing this, Moshe said to him, why are you embarrassed, because of
this (your embarassment) you were chosen to be the High Priest. Two questions
arise from Rashi's explanation. First, why does it say that Aharon was
embarrassed and why wasthis the reason that he was chosen. Furthermore, it
appears from Rashi that there were two independent reasons which influenced
Aharon's hesitation -- embarrassment and fear. The Maharam Alshich explained why Aharon was embarassed. He taught that the reason why sacrifices were brought on the first day that the altar was erected was primarily to atone for the sin of the golden calf. This is why Aharon took two calves, one to atone for his sins and the other to atone for the sins of Israel. He first atoned for his own sins to clear his own slate. The nation could therefore not complain that since Aharon created the golden calf, he is blemished and thus must perfect himself before perfecting others. Aharon was embarrassed because he was a crucial participant in the sin of the golden calf. This explains the reason for the embarrassment of Aharon, however, how can we explain Aharon's fear during this time? A possible explanation is that Aharon knew through his Ruach Hakodesh that Korach would make claims on the position of the High Priest. Korach thought that he himself should be the High Priest so Aharon feared that there was a chance that on that same day Korach would rise up out of hate and jealousy and demand the priesthood for himself, claiming that Aharon was no greater than himself. Therefore, Aharon feared. Both reasons, embarrassment and fear, are independent yet are tied to each other. Aharon was the ideal choice to be the High Priest and no one within his tribe (Levi) could approach him and contest his right to lead. It says in the gemara at Yoma 22b that "a leader of a community should not be appointed unless he has 'dirty baggage' which has followed him." This is to ensure that the leader does not became haughty and full of himself. Therefore a leader is chosen who comes with 'baggage'. The greater the leadership position to be filled, the more important it is that the candidate not be one who is prone to haughtiness. The High Priest atones for the entire nation and because his position is so lofty and important he may have or develop a propensity for haughtiness. Therefore we seek out someone who has some reason from his past to be humble. Aharon was the most worthy and ideal candidate because he was the only man of the entire tribe of Levi who participated in the sin of the golden calf.
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