Parshat Tetzaveh is
focused on the Kohanim and describes how they were selected, what they wore and
how they were inaugurated.
What is not mentioned in Parshat Tetzaveh is Moshe’s name.
This is the only parsha of the last four books of the Torah that doesn’t
mention Moshe by name.
Cassuto points out that while Moshe’s name is not mentioned
at all in this parsha, Aharon’s name is mentioned seven times!
Nehama Leibowitz explains that this was an opportunity for
Aharon to get his chance to be in the limelight.
According to Midrashei HaTorah, the absence of Moshe’s name
shows how humble he was. Originally, Moshe was supposed to be the Kohen but
then God changed the plan and made Moshe the leader who would take B’nai
Yisrael out of
At that point God made Aharon and his sons the Kohanim.
We learn this from the Talmud, Zevachim 102a: The question
of whether Moshe was a Kohen was disputed by the Tanaim as recorded in the following
Braita:
After God summoned Moshe at the “burning bush” to lead the
Jewish people out of Egypt, Moshe repeatedly begged to be relieved of the
mission until God became angry with him as it says in Shmot 4:14: “God
displayed anger (vayichar af HaShem) toward Moshe and said, ‘Is not
Aharon the Levi your brother? I know that he knows how to speak. Behold he is
setting out to meet you and when he sees you he will rejoice in his heart.’”
The Gemara continues, Every time “the burning of anger” is
mentioned in the Torah, a mark is mentioned in regard to it. But this burning
anger has no mark with regard to it.
Rabbi Shimon ben Yochai says: Actually in regard to this one
too a mark is mentioned as it is stated that God then said to Moshe: “Is not
Aharon the Levi your brother?” Why did God refer to Aharon as the Levi, wasn’t
he a Kohen?
God was really saying: “I said that you (Moshe) were to be
the Kohen and he (Aharon) was to be the Levi. Now that you have aroused my
anger, he (Aharon) shall be the Kohen and you (Moshe) shall be the Levi…
Some say: The Kehuna ceased only with Moshe’s descendents,
but Moshe himself was a Kohen all of his life. As it says in Divrei HaYamim
Alef, 23:14: “But as for Moshe, the man of God, his sons are reckoned among the
tribe of Levi.” This implies that only Mosh’s sons were Leviim while Moshe
himself was a Kohen. Tehillim 99:6 states: “Moshe and Aharon were among his
Kohanim and Shmuel among those who invoke His name.”
The fact that Moshe’s name is not mentioned in our parsha reminds
us that even if Moshe did serve as a Kohen in some capacity during his
lifetime, the Kehuna would not be passed down to his children.
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