VOLUME 119 NUMBER 8
Adar 10, 5786
February 27, 2026
Parshas Tetzaveh
Candlelighting Time 5:32
The Kohanim that served in the Mishkan and the Beis Hamikdash wore extremely fashionable clothing. Even a superficial perusing of the parsha will clue you in on their wardrobe. Was exquisite clothing such a necessity to fulfill their obligations such as was required? After all, the main objective was to accomplish their roles and attend to the myriad details involved in the daily routine in the Mishkan and later the Beis Hamikdash. And as we know, the amount of minutiae that comprised the daily offerings was quite substantial. Did it really matter how well they were dressed. And especially the Kohen Gadol, the High Priest truly out shown the others and was impeccably attired.
The Torah states that the reason for their fabulous clothing was for their honor and dignity. Obviously, a person senses propriety in what he is doing when he dressed for the occasion. However, perhaps we need to better appreciate the honor and dignity that the Kohanim merited dressed in elegant apparel. Did their attire impair their ability to focus on their significant role to provide us with the appropriate and vital impact of the Mishkan and later the Beis Hamikdash?
Nachmonides explains further that the Mishkan was essentially the House of Hashem, essentially the palace of the King. All the different designs and types of clothing actually resembled the same wardrobe to be found amongst kings and the royal family. Wearing distinguished and illustrious imperial attire definitely added to their stimulus and motivation to perform their duties on a higher level. We can state that not only didn’t the impressive clothing of the Kohanim detract from their capacity to fulfill their obligations befittingly, on the contrary it was a tremendous assist for them to be primed for their roles in the Mishkan.
There is another factor that must be mentioned. Only artisans of repute were allowed to make the special clothing for the Kohanim. The terminology employed is those that their hearts were full of wisdom. It seems almost counter intuitive that those who had the skills had also to be extremely wise. The talent to fashion these beautiful outfits does not necessarily result from extreme wisdom rather from the aptitude to form such dazzling and marvelous handiwork.
Nachmonides again explains that the clothing was made with intense concentration infusing within the very fibers of the different garments tremendous power and energy that was dedicated and committed to enhancement of the various sacrifices and offerings in the Mishkan. However, the innovation imbued within these singular fashions not only affected the Kohanim in their service in the Mishkan but additionally their influence was surreal.
When Alexander the Great, the warrior of note, approached Jerusalem, Shimon the Righteous then the officiating High Priest ventured to greet him. Alexander dismounted and prostrated himself in front of him. His soldiers were aghast and in disbelief that he would demonstrate such humility to anyone and certainly not to a Jew. He remarked that before he engages the enemy and is ultimately successful, this old, bearded man appears to him in a dream. Even this battle hardened soldier grasped that he was witnessing an angel from a celestial region and comprehended that the Heavens were guiding his victorious pursuits. Therefore, when he met the High Priest who resembled the apparition in his dream, he realized that his presence was one of Divine nature and therefore understood that he should not attack Jerusalem.
A BYTE FOR SHABBOS
The Mishkan was the ‘middleman’ between Hashem and the nation. He conveyed his blessing through it to us. There were three components involved in that exchange. The Mishkan itself had to be consecrated in order to have Hashem’s blessing conveyed to us through it. Also, we the people, had to attain a level of sanctity to merit that conveyance from Hashem. And the Kohanim had to have the correct level of purity to serve in the Mishkan to create that ambiance. All are mentioned together in one verse at the end of the parsha focusing on this theme. Rav Shlomo Kluger
GOOD SHABBOS
