Va’aira

The passuk says “hu Aharon u’Moshe.” Rashi explains that there are places where it first mentions Moshe and then Aharon and other places where Aharon is mentioned before Moshe.  This teaches us that they are equal as one.

Rav Moshe Feinstein zatzal asks: We know that Moshe was the head of all nevi’im and the Rabban of the whole world, and through him the Torah was given.  How can it be that Aharon was equal to him?

Rav Moshe answers that since Aharon was needed for the shlichus of Hashem (helping Moshe Rabeinu) to take out Klal Yisroel, so in this cheilek they were equal.  Where the gadol, Moshe, needs the help of the katan, Aharon, they split the profit.

I heard another answer from Avi Mori shlita from Rav Moshe: since Aharon did all that was possible for him to do, just as Moshe did all he could do, he is equal to Moshe.  Although Moshe was really greater, since Aharon put in his full effort, they are considered equal.  There is a mashal to express this idea: A person has 2 cups, a 4-oz cup and an 8-oz cup and both cups are full. The 8-oz cup contains more but since they are both containing as much as they are able to, they can be considered equal- they are both full.

People have different jobs and potentials in this world.  If a person can only learn Chumash and Rashi they there won’t be a tevi’ah on him to learn shas.  If one can learn shas then there will be a tevi’ah on him to learn shas.  Rav Yisroel Salanter said on himself that he may well have the intellect of 1,000 people, but then he also has to accomplish as much as 1,000 people. If one learns a few mesechtos, only a part of his potential, and another person learns Chumash and Rashi to the best of his ability, then the second person will be more shaleim.  And if each do their potential they will be considered equal.

May we be zoche to recognize our avoda and grow in shleimus until we reach “hu Aharon u’Moshe!”