This week's parsha - Shemini - discusses the events that occurred on the first day of the Month of Nissan, at which time Aaron was installed as the High Priest.

One of the offerings he was commanded to bring was a calf. Why a calf? Rashi explains that this was "to let it be known that G-d forgave him for his role in the construction of the golden calf by way of this calf offering."

A question was raised as to why Rashi could not have simply stated that the offering of the calf was to serve as atonement for Aaron for his role in the construction of the golden calf. Why the need for Rashi to write "to let it be known?"

The simple answer is that whenever a person is appointed to leadership, he must not only be devoid of sin, but also avoid the appearance of sin and impropriety. If Aaron had not brought the calf as an offering, it might have been presumed that he was still guilty for his role in the golden calf debacle. Hence, by commanding Aaron to bring the calf as an offering, G-d let it be known to all that he was forgiven for that sin.

A contemporary Chassidic Master (the previous Rebbe of Skulen) offers a different answer to the question as to why Rashi prefaces the words: "to let it be known."

In the Talmudic treatise Ethics of the Fathers the great Sage Rabbi Akiva teaches:

"Beloved is man, for he was created in the image of G-d. It is a sign of even greater love that it was made known to him that he was created in the image G-d, as it is stated: 'For in the image of G-d He made man.' Beloved are the people of Israel, for they are called children of G-d. It is a sign of even greater love that it was made known to them that they were called children of G-d as it is stated: 'You are children of G-d your G-d.' Beloved are the people Israel, for they were given a desirable instrument, as it is stated: 'For I have given you good merchandise; do not forsake My Torah.'"

From these words we can see that there are two levels of love. One could love someone or something. But when they articulate their love for that person or thing it is a sign that the love is of a higher magnitude. By telling someone how special they are, assuming that it is not just flattery but it is sincere, it expresses an even higher level of appreciation of that individual.

We can now understand why Rashi did not simply state that the calf offering  was an atonement for Aaron. It should be assumed that Aaron had atoned for his involvement with the golden calf in the months preceding the events discussed in this week's parsha. The events of this week's parsha take place on the first of Nissan, one year after the Exodus. The golden calf saga occurred on the seventeenth of Tammuz, almost nine months earlier during which time G-d had already given Moses a second set o tablets indicating His desire to forgive the Jewish people for their involvement in the golden calf incident.

The question thus arises, why did Aaron have to bring a calf offering? A follow up question: If Aaron's repentance until now did not suffice due to the sheer magnitude of the sin and the higher expectations G-d had of him how does the offering of a mere calf remove the stain of the olden calf from him?

Rashi, therefore explains that the purpose of offering the calf was not for his atonement. Rather, G-d wanted everybody to know that he had been forgiven. After all, even if someone asks forgiveness for hurting another and is granted forgiveness, the relationship will rarely be as loving as it was prior to the incident that caused the rift. It takes much more than simply saying "I'm sorry" to restore the trust and love.

Aaron's case, however was different. By having Aaron bring an offering from a calf it was G-d's way of showing him that His love for him was not diminished. It was as strong, if not stronger, than it was initially. Thus, by letting everyone know that he was forgiven it served to enhance Aaron's stature in the Jewish community, inasmuch as it expressed G-d's great love and affection for him. Now everybody knew how special Aaron was.

The application of this narrative to our times is that as a people we have our shortcomings. We have done things in the past that have distanced us from G-d. And even though the Merciful G-d has certainly forgiven us, there are those nations of the world that will constantly taunt us that we have lost our status as the "Chosen Nation."

However, when we survey the miracles that we as a people have experienced, particularly, in recent times, it is G-d's way of telling the entire world that we are special to Him. But, until such time that Moshiach will be sent by G-d to redeem us and restore us to our original position, the hostile nations will continue to impugn our integrity. Thus, our pleas for Moshiach is a plea for G-d to show us that we enjoy a special relationship with Him and that His love for us has not been diminished.