Tuesday, April 30, 2019
Acharei Mot #3- Kohen Clothing
In פרק טז פסוק ד it says: כְּתֹֽנֶת־בַּ֨ד קֹ֜דֶשׁ יִלְבָּ֗שׁ וּמִכְנְסֵי־בַד֘ יִֽהְי֣וּ עַל־בְּשָׂרוֹ֒ וּבְאַבְנֵ֥ט בַּד֙ יַחְגֹּ֔ר וּבְמִצְנֶ֥פֶת בַּ֖ד יִצְנֹ֑ף בִּגְדֵי־קֹ֣דֶשׁ הֵ֔ם וְרָחַ֥ץ בַּמַּ֛יִם אֶת־בְּשָׂר֖וֹ וּלְבֵשָֽׁם:
4: He shall wear a holy linen shirt and linen pants shall be upon his flesh, and he shall gird himself with a linen sash and wear a linen cap these are holy garments, [and therefore,] he shall immerse himself in water and don them.
A question that can be asked is, why does it only list 4 of the 8 garments that a כוהן גדול wears? Well Rashi says that by stating only the four garments of an ordinary kohen, this informs us that the Kohen Gadol does not perform the service inside the קדש קדשים wearing the eight garments with which he performs the service outside the קדש קדשים, because those garments contain gold, and a prosecutor cannot become a defender. I.e since the Kohen Gadol enters the קדש קדשים on Yom Kippur to effect atonement for all Israel, he may not enter wearing gold, because it resembles the golden calf. Instead, he wears four garments, like an ordinary kohen, all of which are made of linen.
What are other possible reasons why it only has 4 garments stated?
Additionally, what is the significance of the other 4 garments left out? Why does the Kohen Gadol have more garments than a regular Kohen, and what would happen if he wore more than he was supposed to? Why does the Kohen Gadol go to the קדש קדשים so many times? What is the significance of the קדש קדשים? And is there anywhere else in the Torah were we see that a Kohen Gadol/regular Kohen doesn’t wear all of his garments?
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ESTI FIELDS
ReplyDeleteAccording to the Ibn Ezra the reason why only 4 out of the 8 garments are states is because the other 4 garments were already mentioned Shemot 28:35. I like this answer because its simple and explains that it does not need to be mentioned again because it was stated earlier. However, I feel like these garments should be mentioned again because all the Kohen Gadols 8 garments should be grouped together since they are all important
The קדש הקדשים was the holiest part of the Mishkan. No one was aloud to enter the קדש קדשים except for the Kohen gadol on Yom Kippur. If one were to go in they would be killed. The floor, walls and ceiling were plated with gold, as was the Kodesh. It was a very holy place.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/144745/jewish/The-Holy-of-Holies.htm
Rivka Krause
ReplyDeleteWe see throughout the Torah that clothing and has a symbolic purpose. For example, Yosef’s coat. The clothing of the Cohen Gadol was meant to remind him of his responsibility to Hashem and the Jewish people. This is seen in the חושן and the forehead. His “uniform” was a constant reminder of his position. By distinguishing the clothing of the Cohen gadol and the regular Cohen we are distinguishing their rank, just like uniforms in the military. I think this is an interesting concept because the way you dress does inform other people's opinions about you.
https://jewishweek.timesofisrael.com/do-clothes-make-the-priest/
Mia Gerzberg:
ReplyDeleteThe Talmud (Zevachim 88b) says that each object of clothing that the CoHen wore was for an atonement for a specific sin.
The כתונתwas for the crime of murder.
The מכנסיםwere atonement for the sin of immorality.
The מגבעתwas atonement for haughtiness.
The אבנטwas atonement for wrongful thoughts and desires.
The חושןwas atonement for a miscarriage of justice.
The מעילwas atonement for idolatry.
The אפודwas atonement for gossip.
The ציץplate was atonement for stubbornness.
I think this is such a unique and cool way of thinking of what the cohen wore because they are suppose to be higher people so this is kinda like a daily reminder to not have these qualities
And is there anywhere else in the Torah were we see that a Kohen Gadol/regular Kohen doesn’t wear all of his garments?
ReplyDeleteChizkuni says that durning the 400 years plus that the second beit hamikdash they didn’t wear the חושן ואפוד because they couldn’t communicate with Hashem at that time, so there was no point of wearing those garments. I didn’t like this answer because I feel like even though they couldn’t communicate with Hashem through the אורים ותומים I feel that they should wear them in a symbolic way because they are still garments.
AYELET SCHOCHET
ReplyDeleteThe Or HaChaim answers: the reason only four of the eight garments are mentioned here is because the others are not suitable to wear in the קדש קדשים, since they are made from gold. He gives a similar reason as Rashi and says that it would have been a reminder of the act of the golden calf. He then adds another reason, quoting a line from the book of Proverbs saying "Do not be boastful in front of a king", this teaches that one should not dwell on his own importance in the presence of Hashem. I like this answer, because even though the role of a כוהן גדול is extremely holy, and important, he is nothing compared to Hashem, and it is important to remember that.