Aharon's tomb in Jordan
Fifteen. Four. Six. Three. The Passover Seder which we just celebrated has many numbers associated with it. There are fifteen steps at the Seder, four cups of wine, four questions and six items on the Seder plate. There were also three Matzahs, corresponding to the three tiles in the Jewish people of 'Kohen', Levi', and Yisrael'.
The Kohen's (priests) were, and are, those descended from Aharon, Moses' older brother by three years. Levi's (the people, not jeans) are those descended from the tribe of Levi, who were charged with the management of Jewish spiritual life, particularly in the Temple in Jerusalem. Finally, Yisrael refers to anyone who is not a Kohen or Levi (I'm still proud to count myself in that group!). Hence the three Matzas, one for each of the three groups.
The ancestor of all Kohen's, Aharon, is mentioned in the Torah too many times to count. But he's very seldom heard from. Aharon is a big name and famed figure, known to every student of Torah. Yet most would have to think for a while before telling you a single quote of his. Aharon was an extraordinary, towering figure in Jewish history - and he became that by being humble, reticent and subtle.
Humility - real humility - is rock solid, unmovable, dedicated and strong, while at the same time being kind, sensitive and selfless. It comes from having such a sound, happy, strong sense of self that one is not threatened whatsoever by the existence of others.
Humility is almost a mere symptom of someone who is in such a good, happy place that they don't have a need to pursue validation from the outside world. On the contrary. They usually inspire and light up the world around them.
But it can be hard to be humble. Really Hard. It can be so hard that although by now the whole world knows that humility ('customer obsession' in Amazon's lingo) is probably the best business model out there, many businesses still have trouble incorporating it into their operations. The biggest challenge is usually because humility brings great success, but often only over time.
Aharon (about whom we read extensively in this week's Torah portion), the humble yet powerful force in Jewish history, embodied this profound strength. The Kabbalah points out how Aharon's very name has the same Hebrew letters as the word for 'seeing' (נראה). Just as one who sees something in front of their eyes does not need to be convinced of its truth, so too did Aharon's mere existence exude strength, positivity, light and stamina - without having to say a word.
In a world where the only real currency can seem to be force and might, Aharon's message of genuine, real, humble caring and commitment to what is right and just, reverberates though time. It's also the greatest key to success.
Rabbi Avrohom