“Aharon
Ha-Kohein ascended Hor Ha-har and died there in the fortieth year... in the
fifth month on the first of the month” (Bamidbar 33:38). Aharon’s date of passing,
1 Av, is the only yahrzeit recorded in the Torah because both Aharon and the
date combine for a unique message for us today, on Rosh Chodesh Av.
Aharon’s passing was a greater blow to the Jewish people than even the passing of Moshe. The entire people wept for Aharon. (Bamidbar 20:29) According to the Midrash, when Elazar and Moshe returned from burying Aharon, the people refused to accept the reality of Aharon’s passing and continued to look expectantly for Aharon to return to the camp. Why was Aharon so beloved? Pirkei Avot (1:12) provides the answer:
“Be of the disciples of Aaron, loving peace (oheiv shalom) and pursuing peace (rodeif shalom), loving mankind (oheiv et ha-beriyot) and drawing them close to the Torah (mekarvan la-Torah).”
Aharon was a peacemaker. He had a specific system for ending conflict. He would approach each belligerent individually and tell them that he had a message from the other person. He would then explain how the other person longed to resolve their issue and had sent Aharon to reconcile on their behalf. Aharon would then do the same thing to the other side. When the two sides would meet, each would assume the other wanted peace, and the confrontation would end peacefully
I think the teaching in Avot gives us much deeper insight into Aharon as peacemaker and lover of humanity. Each expression adds another layer of the connection Aharon wished to forge with others.
Oheiv shalom – a lover of peace: People can choose between fomenting conflict, ignoring it, or wanting to see it end. Aharon hated conflict and wanted people to get along.
Rodeif shalom – a pursuer of peace: Many people hate conflict but don’t do anything about it. Aharon acted on this desire and sought reconciliation.
Oheiv et ha-beriyot – a lover of people: Aharon was a gregarious fellow. He liked being in the company of people and wanted people to appreciate the company of others.
Mekarvan la-Torah – draw them close to Torah: For Aharon, it wasn’t just socializing; it was mission driven. He wanted people to better themselves and live in accordance with their Jewish mission.
Aharon is beloved for his love for others, for his desire that others should love others, and his ability to encourage others to live their best and truest selves.
That is quite a legacy – and a timely one on 1 Av. The Talmud (Yoma 9b) famously teaches:
“Why was the First Temple destroyed? Because of three things which prevailed there: idolatry, immorality, bloodshed... But why was the Second Temple destroyed, seeing that in its time they occupied themselves with Torah, mitzvot and acts of kindness? Because baseless hatred (sinat chinam) prevailed. This teaches you that baseless hatred is equal to the three sins of idolatry, illicit relations and murder.”
This has, in turn, inspired Rav Kook’s oft-quoted teaching:
“If we were destroyed, and the world with us, due to baseless hatred, then we shall rebuild ourselves, and the world with us, with baseless love, ahavat chinam.” (Orot HaKodesh vol. III, p. 324)
Ahavat chinam is not as easy as flicking on or off a switch. The love we need is the complex, mature, aspirational love of Aharon.
In an interesting twist, Aharon’s death is recorded in Parshat Chukat, but we only learn the date of death in Parshat Masei, which is always read during the week in which Rosh Chodesh Av occurs. While the weekly Torah reading is of much later origin, we should not ignore this coincidence and the opportunity it provides us with to commit to Aharon’s legacy of love, peace, people, and Torah.
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