The seven days of separation by the High Priest before the inauguration of the Tabernacle is discussed twice in the Torah. Parashat Tetzaveh in the book of Exodus details the preparation of the High Priest during the seven days and parashat Tzav in the book of Leviticus tells of the execution of these details. In the course of today’s daf TB Yoma 5 we learn why Moses was such a great leader.
“The Sages taught: In the context of the implementation of the inauguration, three variations of the phrase appear: “For so I am commanded” (Leviticus 8:35); “as I commanded” (Leviticus 10:18); and “as God has commanded” (Leviticus 10:15). What does this repetition teach? From the phrase: “For so I am commanded,” it is derived that even in a state of acute mourning (onen- עונן), on the first day after the death of a relative, one must eat the offering. God stated the verse: “As I commanded,” at the time of the incident just after the deaths of Nadav and Avihu, when Aaron and his sons were in a state of acute mourning. And when Moses states: “As God commanded,” he is saying: The command is from God and it is not from my own initiative that I am saying it.” (Sefaria.org translation)
On the eighth day the tabernacle was inaugurated three separate sin offerings (קרבנות חטאת) were sacrificed. One was for the tabernacle in order to purify it of any ritual unreadiness. One was part of the gift that the leader of the tribe of Judah, Nakhshon ben Aminadav, presented. Since the eighth day corresponded to the first day of the month of Nissan, Rosh Hodesh, the third sin sacrifice was also offered up on the altar.
In parashat Tzav Moses learned that Aaron offered up a sin offering and burned everything upon the Alter instead of eating the cuts of meat given to him. He became angry at Aaron’s apparent disobedience to God’s command. Rashi explains the back-and-forth between the brothers (ד"ה כאשר צויתי בשעת מעשה אמר להם and ד"ה כאשרצוה ה" ולא מאלי אני אומר) Aaron and his surviving sons ate their allotted portions from the sin offering for the tabernacle and the sin offering of Nakhshon ben Aminadav because they were special being a once in eternity offering. Because the sin offering of Rosh Hodesh was a regular sacrifice throughout all generations, the normative rule of an onen being forbidden to eat a sacrifice remained in place. Consequently, Aaron and his sons did not eat from the third sin offering but burnt it completely on the Altar.
When
Moses heard this explanation he admitted that he was wrong and Aaron was right.
We learn from a Loa Tzu[1]
saying why Moses was a great leader.
A great nation is like a great man:
When he makes a mistake, he realizes it.
Having
realized it, he admits it.
Having
admitted it, he corrects it.
He
considers those who point out his faults as is most benevolent teachers.
[1] Lao Tzu (/ˈlaʊˈtsuː/[2] or /ˈlaʊˈdzʌ/),[3][4] also rendered as Laozi (UK: /ˈlaʊˈzɪə/;[2] US: /ˈlaʊˈtsiː/; Chinese: 老子, Mandarin: [làu̯.tsɨ]; commonly translated as "Old Master") and Lao-Tze (/ˈlaʊˈdzeɪ/),[5] was an ancient Chinese philosopher and writer.[6] He is the reputed author of the Tao Te Ching,[7] the founder of philosophical Taoism (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laozi)
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