We find a powerful idea tucked within Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus. It centers around the verse: "And you, draw Aaron your brother near to you, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, to serve Me: Aaron, Nadav and Avihu, Elazar and Itamar, Aaron’s sons" (Exodus 28:1). But it doesn't just stop at the literal meaning. Instead, it uses this verse to explore the very nature of leadership within Israel.
The text cleverly connects this verse in Exodus to one in Zechariah (10:4): “From it will come a cornerstone, from it a peg, from it a bow of war.” What’s the connection? The Midrash (rabbinic commentary) uses this verse from Zechariah to make a profound point: Israel's leaders – kings, priests, warriors, even judges – arise from within the people themselves. The Midrash contrasts this with other nations. "When the early nations would seek to appoint a king for themselves, they would bring [a man] from anywhere and appoint him over them," the text says, pointing to examples in Genesis (36:32-39) where kings of Edom came from foreign lands. Israel, however, is different. King David, the ultimate cornerstone, rose from being a humble shepherd. As we find in Midrash Tehillim 118, "The stone that the builders rejected became the cornerstone" (Psalms 118:22). He was the youngest, the least likely, and yet…
And the High Priest? He’s the “peg” – a source of stability, as it says in Isaiah (22:23): "I will affix him as a peg in a secure place." And the warriors, the “bow of war,” are those armed with strength and skill, as described in I Chronicles (12:2). Even the judges’ scribes, those who keep order, come "from it."
Now, back to Aaron. The Midrash tells a story to illustrate this point further. Imagine a king who wants to appoint a treasurer, so he chooses his friend. Later, the king needs a military chief, and the friend naturally hopes to be chosen again. But the king tells him, "Go and appoint a military chief of staff…from your noble family."
This, the Midrash suggests, is what happened with Moses. Moses was chosen to oversee the Tabernacle. But when it came time to appoint a High Priest, Moses might have thought, "Maybe it will be me." But God says, "Go and appoint a High Priest for Me…from the tribe of Levi…it is Aaron, your brother!"
That’s why the verse says, "And you, draw Aaron your brother near to you." It's not just about choosing someone; it's about choosing someone from among them, someone connected to the people.
There's even a debate among the Rabbis about how long Moses served as High Priest. Some say it was all forty years in the wilderness! As Rabbi Berekhya says in the name of Rabbi Simon, drawing on verses from I Chronicles (23:13-14), Moses held this role continuously. Others believe it was only during the seven days of inauguration. Either way, the point is that leadership was intertwined with the people's spiritual life.
What does this mean for us today? Perhaps it's a reminder that true leadership isn't about titles or positions, but about connection and service. It’s about recognizing the potential within our communities and empowering those who are "from among" us to rise and lead. It asks us to consider: are we looking outside, or are we nurturing the leaders within?