Chasidut zu Schemot 29:9
וְחָגַרְתָּ֩ אֹתָ֨ם אַבְנֵ֜ט אַהֲרֹ֣ן וּבָנָ֗יו וְחָבַשְׁתָּ֤ לָהֶם֙ מִגְבָּעֹ֔ת וְהָיְתָ֥ה לָהֶ֛ם כְּהֻנָּ֖ה לְחֻקַּ֣ת עוֹלָ֑ם וּמִלֵּאתָ֥ יַֽד־אַהֲרֹ֖ן וְיַד־בָּנָֽיו׃
Und gürte sie mit dem Gurt, Aaron wie seine Söhne, und winde ihnen Kegelmützen um, und es sei ihnen das Priestertum zu ewiger Satzung, so füllst du die Hand Aarons und die Hand seiner Söhne [übergibst dn ihnen das Priesteramt].
Kedushat Levi
Exodus 29,9. “you shall ordain Aaron and his sons.” We know that in this lower world, better known as עולם הזה, “this world,” i.e. the world inhabited by mortal creatures, we cannot find absolute perfection, as every creature is tied to a greater or lesser degree to the need to satisfy physical requirements. It is also a fact that these “joys or satisfactions” our bodies derive from fulfilling their cravings never endure, and we always experience the lack of something. This is the basic difference between serving the Lord, and indulging one’s physical or erotic fantasies. David expressed this beautifully, when he said in psalms 34,11 ודורשי ה' לא יחסרו כל טוב, “but those who seek their satisfaction by seeking out G’d will not ever feel that something is missing.” The “good” they will experience will be felt to be absolute, enduring.
The elite of our people who have succeeded in glimpsing the אין סוף with their mental eye will be rewarded by this feeling of having attained something sublime, complete.
When the Torah instructs Moses to ordain Aaron, by using the expression: ומלאת, from the root מלא, “full, fill,” it conveys to Moses that Aaron will find total fulfillment in his role as High Priest. Also Aaron’s sons will feel this sense of fulfillment when carrying out their duties in the Tabernacle, an experience that cannot be compared to fulfilling one’s secular needs. When G’d tells Moses about this, it is because He wants him to know that he, Moses, will have a share in elevating both his brother and his nephews to such spiritual heights.
Our author feels that the reason why the eight days of consecration were called שמונת ימי מלואים, was to symbolize that Aaron and his sons used these days to get familiar with this new level of serving the Lord, something they would not do ad hoc, in their spare time, so to speak, but something that henceforth would afford them a degree of satisfaction that is not to be found when devoting oneself to earthly concerns, however noble in intent and deed. During these days they would experience the meaning of G’d’s presence being among them on earth.
The elite of our people who have succeeded in glimpsing the אין סוף with their mental eye will be rewarded by this feeling of having attained something sublime, complete.
When the Torah instructs Moses to ordain Aaron, by using the expression: ומלאת, from the root מלא, “full, fill,” it conveys to Moses that Aaron will find total fulfillment in his role as High Priest. Also Aaron’s sons will feel this sense of fulfillment when carrying out their duties in the Tabernacle, an experience that cannot be compared to fulfilling one’s secular needs. When G’d tells Moses about this, it is because He wants him to know that he, Moses, will have a share in elevating both his brother and his nephews to such spiritual heights.
Our author feels that the reason why the eight days of consecration were called שמונת ימי מלואים, was to symbolize that Aaron and his sons used these days to get familiar with this new level of serving the Lord, something they would not do ad hoc, in their spare time, so to speak, but something that henceforth would afford them a degree of satisfaction that is not to be found when devoting oneself to earthly concerns, however noble in intent and deed. During these days they would experience the meaning of G’d’s presence being among them on earth.
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy