According to Ginzberg’s retelling in Legends of the Jews, when Moses approached Aaron with the news that God wanted him to be the Kohen Gadol, the High Priest, Aaron wasn't exactly ecstatic. He pointed out, "What! Thou hadst all the labor of erecting the Tabernacle, and I am now to be its high priest!" Can you blame him? Moses got to lead the whole project!
But Moses, ever the diplomat, responded, "As truly as thou livest, although thou art to be high priest, I am as happy as if I had been chosen myself. As thou didst rejoice in my elevation, so do I now rejoice in thine." Imagine that: genuine joy in another’s success, especially a sibling’s. It paints a picture of deep brotherly love and mutual respect. It wasn't just about power or prestige; it was about serving God and the people.
Moses then gives Aaron some intriguing advice. "My brother Aaron, although God had become reconciled to Israel and has forgiven them their sin, still, through thy offering must thou close the mouth of Satan, that he may not hate thee when thou enterest the sanctuary. Take then a young calf as a sin-offering, for as thou didst nearly lose thy claim to the dignity of high priest through a calf, so shalt thou now through the sacrifice of a calf be established in thy dignity.”
The Zohar tells us that even after forgiveness, there's a need to appease the forces of negativity, represented here by Satan. The offering of the calf is particularly symbolic. It’s a way to confront the past transgression of the Golden Calf and to ensure that Aaron's path forward is clear. It's almost like saying, "Let's use the symbol of our failure to pave the road to our redemption.”
But it doesn't stop with Aaron. Moses then turns to the people. "You have two sins to atone for," he tells them: "the selling of Joseph, whose coat you fathers smeared with the blood of a kid to convince their father that its owner had been torn to pieces by a wild beast, and the sin you committed through the worship of the Golden Calf."
He instructs them to bring a kid to atone for the sin involving the kid (Joseph’s coat), and a calf to atone for the sin involving the calf (the Golden Calf). "But to make sure that God had become reconciled to you, offer up a bull also, and thereby acknowledge that you are slaughtering before God your idol, the bull that you had erstwhile worshipped."
This multi-layered atonement is fascinating. It’s not just about asking for forgiveness; it's about actively dismantling the idols and harmful patterns that led to the sins in the first place. It’s about acknowledging the past, confronting it, and choosing a different path.
The people, however, question this. "What avails it this nation to do homage to its king, who is invisible?" They are yearning for tangible proof, a sign that their efforts are not in vain.
Moses replies, "For this very reason did God command you to offer these sacrifices, so that He may show Himself to you." At these words they rejoiced greatly, for through them they knew that God was now completely reconciled to them, and they hastened to bring the offerings to the sanctuary.
Their joy stems from the hope of divine revelation, of experiencing God's presence. It underscores the human need for connection, for feeling seen and acknowledged by something greater than ourselves.
Moses concludes with a powerful admonition: "See to it now that you drive evil impulse from your hearts, that you now have but one thought and one resolution, to serve God; and that your undivided services are devoted singly and solely to the one God, for He is the God of gods and the Lord of lords. If you will act according to my words, 'the glory of the Lord shall appear unto you.'"
This isn't just about performing rituals; it's about transforming the heart, focusing intention, and dedicating oneself to a higher purpose. It is about wholeheartedly choosing good over evil and serving God with every fiber of their beings.
As we find in Midrash Rabbah, the idea here is that true reconciliation requires not just external actions, but a deep internal shift.
What does this story tell us? Perhaps that leadership requires both strength and humility, as demonstrated by both Moses and Aaron. Maybe that atonement is a complex process that involves confronting the past, dismantling harmful patterns, and striving for a deeper connection with the Divine.
Or, maybe it's a reminder that even in the most sacred narratives, there's always room for human emotions, sibling dynamics, and the ongoing struggle to live a more meaningful life. And that, perhaps, is the most sacred lesson of all.