G-D spoke to Moses, saying:
“Speak to Aaron and say to him: When you mount the lamps, let the seven lamps give light at the front of the lampstand.”
וַיְדַבֵּ֤ר ה׳ אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר׃ דַּבֵּר֙ אֶל־אַהֲרֹ֔ן וְאָמַרְתָּ֖ אֵלָ֑יו בְּהַעֲלֹתְךָ֙ אֶת־הַנֵּרֹ֔ת אֶל־מוּל֙ פְּנֵ֣י הַמְּנוֹרָ֔ה יָאִ֖ירוּ שִׁבְעַ֥ת הַנֵּרֽוֹת׃ וַיַּ֤עַשׂ כֵּן֙ אַהֲרֹ֔ן אֶל־מוּל֙ פְּנֵ֣י הַמְּנוֹרָ֔ה הֶעֱלָ֖ה נֵרֹתֶ֑יהָ כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר צִוָּ֥ה ה׳ אֶת־מֹשֶֽׁה׃ (Bamidbar 8:1–3)
Rashi adds:
“And Aaron did so” — this is stated in praise of Aaron, to show that he did not deviate from what G-D had commanded.
It seems extraordinary that the Torah needs to tell us that Aaron “did not deviate”. Indeed, why would anyone think that Aaron did deviate from the instructions he was given for lighting the Menorah?
I have come across several beautiful explanations of this question:
1. It refers to the fact that although Aaron continued performing the mitzvah of lighting the Menorah every day for the rest of his life, he nevertheless did not deviate from the enthusiasm he felt on the very first day he performed it.
This is, of course, an extraordinary achievement and not an easy one to attain unless a person is as devoted as Aaron was.
2. It means that Aaron himself did not change. The fact that he had been chosen to perform such an important religious task every day did not affect him. He remained the same humble person he had been beforehand.
3. “He did not deviate” means that he performed the mitzvah calmly and with composure, without any unusual outward movements or behaviour.
All three explanations strike me as remarkable and provide us with a rare glimpse into the lives of our great leaders.
Shabbat Shalom and best wishes
Rabbi Chaim Michael Biberfeld