In the last portion of the Torah, V'Zot HaBerachah, we read of Moses's passing and how the men mourned his passing for thirty days. "And the sons of Israel wept." In contrast, after Aaron's passing, "all the House of Israel,” both men and women, wept. Why was Aaron mourned by all? Because he brought peace between peers and between husband and wife.

If peace is so special, why didn't Moses involve himself in peace-making as well? Didn't he himself teach that it is acceptable to twist the truth to make peace.

Moshe was the transmitter of G‑d's word, the Torah, the truth. Peace is sometimes created by bending or choosing to overlook negativity. Truth is unyielding; it doesn't take feelings in to account.

Moses’s main purpose was to accurately teach Torah, he had to be a beacon of unyielding truth. This precluded him from truth-bending, even with the best of intentions.

This is also why, sometimes, Torah discussions and debates can sound harsh. Because it’s about truth, which just is. It is the truth of Torah that makes us who we are. It is because of our commitment to the truth that G‑d chose us.

What takes precedence, truth or peace?

When it comes to Torah study, be like Moses, truth over peace. When counseling people, be like Aaron, peace over truth.

Ultimately, truth is essential to our existence. Peace is a tool employed by our Torah of truth. Start with truth and pursue peace when it is called for.

Don't be a hard-nosed, tactless person; be a mentsch. A mentsch knows when to be like Moses and when to be like Aaron.