 |  | Parshat Chukat teaches us about the death of Aharon. Upon learning of his passing, the Torah tells us, “The entire house of Israel wept for Aharon for thirty days” (Bamidbar 20:29). It is interesting to note that when Moshe dies the Torah states, “The Israelites wept for Moshe in the steppes of Moav for thirty days” (Devarim 34:8). Why does the Torah say that the “entire house of Israel” mourned Aharon, while only “the Israelites” mourned Moshe? According to Rashi, less people cried over Moshe’s passing because Aharon “pursued peace and made peace between a person and their fellow and between a wife and her husband.” In other words, the people felt a deeper pain over the loss of Aharon than Moshe simply because “they saw him as the leader of the people as well as the High Priest who constantly carried out the judgement of the Children of Israel before God in his heart. They felt his love and devotion to them. This was not true of Moshe. He sat alone, his tent pitched outside the Israelite camp. Why was there such a difference in their attitudes toward Moshe and Aharon? It was because Moshe reprimanded the people, while Aharon never did” (Chumash Mesoret HaRav, Parshat Chukat, p 170).
In other words, the intensity of the people’s grief over Aharon had nothing to do with his prominence, authority or prophetic prowess. Surely, Moshe was the greatest leader the Jewish people would ever know, as the Torah says, “Never again did there arise in Israel a prophet like Moshe” (Devarim 34:10). Rather, the people were so distraught over Aharon’s death simply because they felt a strong and real connection with him. They felt that Aharon truly cared about them, loved them, and what is more, they saw him demonstrate his care and affection by being among them, checking in on them, taking an interest in their lives – showing genuine concern over the little things like a spousal quarrel or a neighborly tiff. Those little things made all the difference to the people. Moshe, on the other hand, was not the “people person” Aharon was. And in many ways, his inability to connect with them on basic, real-life levels kept him at an emotional distance. Never mind that “Moshe had prayed to God on their behalf for forty days and nights…. [Never mind that Moshe] asked God to strike his name from the Torah rather than harm them. They did not understand the soul of Moshe and therefore did not weep at his death” (Chumash Mesoret HaRav, Parshat Chukat, p 169). While it is true that Moshe cared deeply about his people, they never really saw that care in action, and even if they did, they would forget all about it upon being reprimanded. Thus, when comparing the nation’s reactions to the deaths of Aharon and Moshe, we find that the people followed Moshe because he was the Man of God, but they loved Aharon because he was the Man of the People. Now, to be fair, Moshe needed Aharon to do his job, and Aharon needed Moshe to do his. Good leadership requires both strategic and tactical approaches – high and granular level involvement. However, in the hearts and minds of the people, Aharon was viewed as the greatest loss, because with his death came the sense that the people were alone.
There are many leadership styles. However, in every and any approach to leadership, connecting with people on their level is the best and most effective way to guide, instruct, inspire, carry and help. Aharon excelled in this, and for that reason alone, he was truly beloved and sorely missed. All of us can reach the level of Aharon in terms of making connections with others, as it says, “Be like the disciples of Aharon, loving peace and pursuing peace, loving humankind and drawing them close to the Torah” (Pirkei Avot 1:12). We do not have to be a Moshe Rebbeinu to make meaningful and lasting connections. We do not have to be on the level of speaking with God face to face to make the biggest impact in the lives of others. Rather, we must be like Aharon and simply speak with each other face to face. Aharon’s greatness resided in his ability to connect with those around him, and all of us can achieve that same level of greatness as well.
Shabbat Shalom!
-Rabbi Dan
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