Ilustration Credit: Elad Lifshitz, Dov Abramson Studio
Midrash מִדְרָשׁ
Midrashim are ideas or stories that explain the Torah. They often come from listening very carefully to what the Torah says and how it says it. Here, we will look for what clues this midrash sees in the Torah's words, and try to understand its messages.
The חֹשֶׁן (hoshen, breastplate) was a really impressive piece of clothing that Aharon wore for his work in the mishkan:
וְנָתַתָּ֞ אֶל־חֹ֣שֶׁן הַמִּשְׁפָּ֗ט אֶת־הָאוּרִים֙ וְאֶת־הַתֻּמִּ֔ים וְהָיוּ֙ עַל־לֵ֣ב אַהֲרֹ֔ן בְּבֹא֖וֹ לִפְנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֑ה וְנָשָׂ֣א אַ֠הֲרֹ֠ן אֶת־מִשְׁפַּ֨ט בְּנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֧ל עַל־לִבּ֛וֹ לִפְנֵ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה תָּמִֽיד׃
Inside the breastplate of judgment you shall place the Urim and Tummim, so that they are over Aharon’s heart when he comes before God. Aharon shall carry this instrument of decision for Benei Yisrael Inside the breastplate of judgment you shall place the Urim and Tummim, so that they are over Aharon’s heart when he comes before God. Aharon shall carry this instrument of decision for Benei Yisrael over his heart before God at all times. before God at all times.
Rabbi Shimon bar Yohai notices how the pasuk mentions specifically that the Urim and Tummim are placed over Aharon’s heart. Why would the Torah say it this way? This reminds him of another place that talked about Aharon’s heart. Back at the burning bush, God told Moshe that Aharon would help him speak to Pharaoh:
הִנֵּה־הוּא֙ יֹצֵ֣א לִקְרָאתֶ֔ךָ וְרָאֲךָ֖ וְשָׂמַ֥ח בְּלִבּֽוֹ׃
Now he is setting out to meet you, and he will be happy in his heart to see you.
Rabbi Shimon bar Yohai ties these pesukim together:
אָמַר רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בַּר יוֹחַאי: הַלֵּב שֶׁשָּׂמַח בִּגְדֻלַּת אָחִיו, יָבוֹא וְיִשְׂמַח וְיִלְבַּשׁ אוּרִים וְתֻמִּים.
Rabbi Shimon bar Yohai said: The heart that was happy for his brother’s important role, will ultimately be happy in his own role.
- What is the connection between Aharon being happy for Moshe and then being chosen to wear the Urim and Tummim in the mishkan? Why does one lead to the other?
- Aharon was the older brother, and Moshe, the younger brother, was chosen to be the leader. How would most older brothers feel if that happened? (Can you think of how other brothers in the Torah might have acted?) What can we learn from the way Aharon responds?
- What is this midrash trying to teach us about being able to serve God in the mishkan?
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