MARCH 17 • 2022 | 43

SPIRIT

It Is All Relative 
W

hat do Brian 
Doyle-Murray, 
Frank Stallone 
and Joey Travolta have in 
common? You’re correct if 
you answered that they are 
talented show busi-
ness personalities 
who have a more 
famous brother.
Then there’s 
Tommie Aaron. He 
was a quite decent 
major league baseball 
player in the 1960s 
and early 1970s. 
Though Tommie 
Aaron didn’t merit 
induction into the 
Hall of Fame, his 
achievements would 
normally merit the 
praise and pride of 
one’s hometown and family. 
But Tommie Aaron is the 
brother of Hank Aaron. 
Tommie does share the 
record, with Hank, of most 
career home runs by broth-
ers, 768, far outdistancing 
the three Dimaggio broth-
ers.
Turning from baseball to 
Torah, the name Aaron is 
still associated with a less 
famous brother. Moses’ 
older brother, Aaron, has 
remarkable accomplish-
ments 
— as Judaism’s first 
high priest, a prophet and 
the one who accompanied 
Moses when speaking before 
Pharaoh.
Yet, Aaron always lived 
in the shadow of his more 
famous brother.
Parashat Tzav begins 
with God telling Moses to 
command Aaron regarding 
the priestly rituals — indi-
cating that Aaron plays an 
important role. However, 
in the opening of Leviticus, 
when calling out to Moses, 
God specifically does not 

mention Aaron. Rashi tells 
us that this omission is 
intentional and that Aaron’s 
relationship with God is less 
than that of Moses.
One explanation for 
Aaron’s “second tier” status 
is due to his role in 
the Golden Calf story. 
While Moses is on 
Mount Sinai, receiving 
the Torah, the Israelites 
demand that Aaron 
help them build a false 
god to worship, and 
Aaron seems to com-
ply.
While seemingly 
inappropriate behavior 
for a leader of Israel, 
it is also noteworthy 
that Aaron is not pun-
ished for his dubious 
act. In fact, the great 
sage Hillel describes Aaron 
as a lover and pursuer of 
peace. In other words, our 
rabbis see Aaron’s building 
the Golden Calf as a means 
of keeping peace in the 
Israelite community until 
Moses returns.
Though not as strong 
or effective a leader as his 
younger brother, Aaron, 
nonetheless, plays a vital 
role in Jewish history. In the 
battle with Amalek. Aaron 
was chosen to be one of the 
two people to hold Moses’ 
arms in the air, thereby 
ensuring an Israelite victory.
Is Aaron as great as his 
brother Moses? Certainly 
not. But is Aaron a leader, a 
positive contributor to Jewish 
history and, in many ways, a 
more achievable role model 
for all of whom will never be 
like Moses? Yes, indeed. 

Rabbi Elliot Pachter is the 

rabbinic adviser at the Frankel 

Jewish Academy and rabbi emeritus 

at Congregation B’nai Moshe, both in 

West Bloomfield.

TORAH PORTION

Rabbi Elliot 
Pachter

Parshat Tzav: 

Leviticus 

6:1-8:36; 

Jeremiah 

7:21-8:3; 

9:22-23.

After being a finalist on the NBC show 
Last Comic Standing, comedian Gary Gulman 
is shining a spotlight on mental health in his 
HBO special, The Great Depresh, from 
executive producer Judd Apatow. 

With humor, vulnerability, and honesty, 
Gary destigmatizes mental illness, normalizes 
treatment and offers hope. Join us as he 
takes the stage for a night of comedy 
and connection. 

For registration and sponsorship
 information, visit jfsspotlightevent.org 
or call 248.592.2339.

Dollars raised enable JFS to address the greatest needs of the 
community and continue serving the most vulnerable.

Jewish Family Service will follow guidelines from the CDC regarding COVID-19.

Thursday, May 12, 2022
Thursday, May 12, 2022

TEMPLE ISRAEL OUTDOOR PAVILION
6:15 PM REGISTRATION 7:00 PM PROGRAM
ADMISSION $65

SPONSORED BY 

THE REVA STOCKER LECTURE SERIES

