Heroism and Reality

Immediately after Aharon is given the news about the death of his two beloved sons, he is expected to carry on his duties as the newly inaugurated Kohein Hagadol.

In the face of what Israel has been going through, this is all too familiar. Despite suffering the loss of loved ones in battle or to terrorism, incredible bravery has been shown by the survivors.

Despite the pain, they carry on in service of our country. Those who cannot continue because of injury, encourage and inspire others to continue the struggle.

In Aharon’s case, he corrected Moshe Rabbeinu by explaining that there is a limit to what is expected of him. He tells his brother that he cannot be expected to eat from the sin offering in his state. He did not believe this would be pleasing in the eyes of Hashem. Moshe agreed with him and accepted his explanation.

We have witnessed superhuman commitment and have been in awe of the heroism of our soldiers. But we still need to recognize that they are individuals who feel just like everyone else. We still need to be realistic in our expectations.

They might need time to grieve for their loved ones, and might need to be encouraged that they be certain that they are ready for the battle field once again.

It is fascinating how timely lessons can be learned from the weekly Torah portion. Aharon displayed great faith and devotion in carrying out his duties. But he also showed a very human side where he had fatherly feelings just like everyone else.

This balance between the just cause of our soldiers, and their human side must also be honored and respected.