In this week’s Parsha, BeHa’alotecha, HaShem commands Aharon to tend to the menorah. Immediately afterwards, the Torah tells us “And Aharon did so.” 

Why does HaShem feel the need to tell us that “Aharon did so”? Would we have ever thought otherwise?! Rashi comes and tells us that HaShem is praising Aharon through these words by informing us “that he didn’t deviate (שינה)” from His command. But our question remains … Did any of us think that Aharon would deviate!? What is Rashi telling us?

The author of the Mei HaShiloach, the Izhbitzer, helps us understand Rashi. He writes that when Rashi is telling us that Aharon “לא שינה”, did not deviate, he is really telling us “שלא נעשה לו כשנינה”, that Aharon never fulfilled this command by rote! (The words for deviation/change and repetition/rote have identical roots).

This exemplifies Aharon’s greatness! No matter how many times he cleaned out the menorah, it was never just another daily chore. It was never just another part of his routine. Every day he performed the exact same tasks, and every day he treated them as if he were performing them for the very first time! May we all be zoche to have the same level of energy and constant revitalization in our own service of HaShem!

What is true on a Ben Adam Lemakom level can also be reflected on a Ben Adam Lechavero level. One way we can read the first pasuk of this week’s Parsha, “בהעלותך את הנרות”, is that a candle alludes to the soul, as is written in Mishlei, “The candle of HaShem is the soul of man.”

A deeper understanding of this pasuk can be, HaShem is commanding Aharon to raise the souls of mankind, to bring them closer to Him and His ways. “And,” as the Torah subsequently informs us, “Aharon did so,” “ויעש כן אהרון.” 

Reb Shlomo Carlebach taught that when Aaron was doing the holy work of elevating the souls of the Jewish people he did it in a כן way, in a honest way. Meaning, שלא שינה אחרים, when Aaron was elevating the souls he didn’t try to change them. He was simply just trying to guide them to a better version of themselves.

We can take this idea one step further. If what is true on a Ben Adam Lemakom level is true on a Ben Adam Lechavero level, it should also be true on a Ben Adam Leatzmo level, between man and himself! 

With this in mind, we can understand Rashi as telling us that Aharon himself was not changed (השתנה) by the magnitude of his own accomplishments! Though he elevated the souls of the people, he was not tainted, he was not filled with arrogance; rather, he stayed as humble and simple as he had ever been! Aharon’s humility was the fuel for his success! How fortunate would we be to possess the same attitude! To elevate the souls of man, but never to be changed by our accomplishments.

From one pasuk, and one Rashi, we have seen derived such deep interpretations:

• Doing Hashem’s commandments every time just like the first time,
  
  
• Elevating those around me without changing who they are,
  
  
• And not letting your achievements fill you with arrogance, rather stay humble and honest.

Wishing you, and all of Am Yisrael, that the words ״ויעש כן״ should be uttered by Hashem about you and your actions within this world.

Shabbat Shalom!