The Real Test: How Do You Keep the Zeal Alive?
At the beginning of the portion it says, "And Aaron did so, toward the face of the lampstand, he raised its lamps, as the Lord commanded Moses." The Sages interpreted this as meaning, "It tells the praise of Aaron, that he did not deviate." One must understand, what reason would there be for Aaron to deviate from his service in carrying out the commandments of the Lord? This was his daily work.
The sacred books explain that Aaron’s praise was not only that he performed the act exactly as commanded, but that even in his inner service he did not change. Every day he would tend and light the lamps with renewed enthusiasm, as though it were the first time in his life. All his actions were done in honor of the Holy One, blessed be He, without any foreign or external thought. More than that, even an action that in appearance seems simple and slight, to tend the lamps and tilt them toward the central lamp, was done by him as something important and lofty in every respect.
This is one of the great foundations in the service of God, "Each day should be in your eyes like something new." A person should not perform his actions like a rote duty, but with renewal, vitality, and joy. It seems that this is a sign that this portion is read immediately after the festival of the giving of the Torah, so that we take with us the aspect of "Beha'alotcha" into the days of routine, and do not, Heaven forbid, return to the old routine without the great strengthening we received.
It is told that a tourist once came to Radin and visited the home of our teacher, the Chafetz Chaim, may the memory of the righteous be a blessing. When he saw the simple and meager house, he was astonished that such a great Jew lived in such a place, and immediately offered to finance a thorough renovation of the home from which instruction goes out to the whole world. The Chafetz Chaim asked him, where are you staying? He answered, at a certain inn in Radin. The Chafetz Chaim asked him, how is it possible that a wealthy and important Jew like you is staying in a plain room at an inn? The man replied, after all, I do not live here. I am only passing through, and in my permanent home there is splendor and majesty. The Chafetz Chaim said to him, we are the same way. In this world, we are all travelers. Not for two weeks, but perhaps for one hundred years, yet it is still only a corridor before the banquet hall. And this is the foundation that gives a person strength to stand firm in every situation and difficulty, the understanding that this world is a passageway, and the main thing is the good deeds we merit to do in it.
It is also told that three outstanding young men entered the room of the Saba of Slabodka, may the memory of the righteous and holy be a blessing, for an inspiring talk. The Saba received them, but toward the most distinguished of the three he showed a stern face. After some back and forth, that young man was surprised and asked, why is our teacher angry with me? After all, I strive and exert myself greatly in Torah and the service of God. The Saba replied, that is exactly why I am angry with you. A young man immersed in Torah and the service of God cannot possibly go around sad, with no joy on his face. If you are not happy, it is a sign that you do not properly value your holy deeds.
Rabbi Chaim Moshe Katz, may he live long and well, is the rabbi of the "Racham" community in western Bnei Brak, gives the large daily Daf Yomi class in the city, and hosts a program on Radio Kol Barama.
