Vayedabber Adonai el Moshe lemor. Kach et Aharon ve’et banav ito ve’et habegadim ve’et shemen hamishchah ve’et par hachatat ve’et shnei haeilim ve’et sal hamatzot. Ve’et kol ha’edah hakhel el petach Ohel Mo’ed. Vaya’as Moshe ka’asher tzivah Adonai oto, vatikahél ha’edah el petach Ohel Mo’ed. Vayomer Moshe el ha’edah: zeh hadavar asher tzivah Adonai la’asot. Vayakrev Moshe et Aharon ve’et banav, vayirchatz otam bammayim. Vayitten alav et hakutonet, vayachgor oto ba’avnet, vayalbesh oto et hame’il, vayitten alav et ha’ephod, vayachgor oto becheshev ha’ephod, vaye’epod lo bo. Vayasem alav et hachoshen, vayitten el hachoshen et ha’urim ve’et hatummim. Vayasem et hamitznefet al rosho, vayasem al hamitznefet el mul panav et tzitz hazahav nezer hakodesh, ka’asher tzivah Adonai et Moshe. Vayikach Moshe et shemen hamishchah, vayimshach et hamishkan ve’et kol asher-bo, veyekadesh otam. Vayaz mimennu al hamizbe’ach sheva pe’amim, vayimshach et hamizbe’ach ve’et kol keilav ve’et hakiyor ve’et kano lekaddesham. Vayitzok mishemen hamishchah al rosh Aharon, vayimshach oto lekaddesho. Vayakrev Moshe et Benei Aharon, vayalbishem kutonot, vayachgor otam avnet, vayachavosh lahem migba’ot, ka’asher tzivah Adonai et Moshe.
Preparing for Holiness: The Inauguration of Aaron and His Sons – Order, Symbols, and the Secret of Sacred Garments
This aliyah opens with an exalted, emotional, and deeply sacred moment:
📜 Moses receives a divine command to establish the priestly service — to officially induct Aaron and his sons into their holy roles.
“Take Aaron and his sons with him…”
This command begins a ceremony of dedication: immersion in water, dressing in sacred garments, anointing with oil, and public inauguration.
It’s not just a technical appointment — it’s a moment of historical creation: the birth of the Kehunah — the priesthood!
🕊️ Washing and Dressing – Purity and Preparation
“And he washed them with water…”
Aaron and his sons immerse and are purified before anything else. Why?
Because entering sacred service requires purity, cleansing, and shedding past habits.
Then begins the dressing: tunic, sash, robe, ephod, breastplate, turban… — each piece crafted exactly according to heavenly instruction.
🧵 The garments are not mere decoration — they reflect inner stature.
As Ramban explains: “The garments are for honor and glory — to signify that the priest bears the nation’s spiritual burden.”
💎 Light and Majesty – The Urim and Tumim
“He placed into the breastplate the Urim and Tumim…”
These mystical items contained the Divine Name, used to answer national questions through prophetic light.
🔮 It was a kind of constant spiritual connection, resting upon the heart of the High Priest.
Why the heart? Because any true answer from heaven must emerge from love and responsibility.
🛢️ Anointing Oil – A Symbol of Divine Blessing
“And he anointed him to sanctify him…”
Moses anoints Aaron and the sacred vessels of the Mishkan.
The Midrash (Vayikra Rabbah 10) says: “When the oil touched Aaron’s head — the Divine Spirit rested upon him!”
The oil isn’t just a substance.
It is blessing, connection to God’s will, spiritual empowerment that flows through the soul.
👑 Public Ceremony – The People as Partners
The Torah emphasizes:
“And the entire congregation assembled…”
Everyone is present. This isn’t a secret ritual for the elite.
Because when establishing a priesthood for the people, the people must see and feel that it is done in their name, by their consent.
The Or HaChaim explains:
“To teach that holiness does not belong to the few — it comes from below, from the people.”
🪶 The Wisdom of Garments – A Crown of Gold
“He placed on the turban the golden plate, the holy diadem…”
The crown on Aaron’s head is not made of diamonds — but a golden band engraved with the words “Holy to Hashem.”
Rashi explains: This reminds us that all the glory, all the garments, all the honor — exist only to sanctify the Divine Name.
🌿 A life lesson:
📌 Before stepping into any important role, project, or responsibility — preparation is everything.
- Washing = inner cleansing
- Garments = representing your inner content
- Oil = inspiration
- Audience = public responsibility
🔑 A spiritual role — great or small — requires intention. There is no such thing as a “routine” role. Every task is a mission.
In summary:
The inauguration of Aaron and his sons is the moment when Israel receives its spiritual heart.
The Kohanim are not rulers — but servants on behalf of the people, messengers of holiness and kindness.
And the people — are full partners. They see, they understand, they feel — that holiness does not belong to a select few, but touches every one of us.
