Jewish Life Digital Edition October 2015 | Page 45

your skin for it to influence your psychological processes.” Or to put it another way: “Clothes invade the body and brain, putting the wearer into a different psychological state.” And the clothing we wear not only affects us, but it affects the people around us as well: “Other experiments have shown that women who dress in a masculine fashion during a job interview are more likely to be hired, and a teaching assistant who wears formal clothes is perceived as more intelligent than one who dresses more casually.” The Torah tells us2 the detailed requirements for the clothing that was to be worn by the Kohanim (the priests), as well as the special garments that were to be worn exclusively by the Kohein Gadol, while serving in the Mishkan (the Tabernacle – the mobile Temple that Hashem commanded us to build). So important were these clothes that the gemara teaches3 if a Kohein performed the avodah (service) without wearing the proper garments, not only was his service disqualified, but he was actually deserving of death. The gemara derives this from a verse in the Torah which states: “You shall gird them – Aaron and his sons – with a sash….and the Kehuna (priesthood) will be theirs for an everlasting law.”4 The gemara explains this verse to mean that at the time that the clothes are being worn by the Kohanim – so too their special status as Kohanim is considered to be upon them as well. But, if the clothes are not on the Kohanim, then their special status as Kohanim is also not considered to be upon them – to the point that they are actually regarded as not being Kohanim at all, with the result being that it’s as if a non-Kohein performed the service in the Mishkan – and hence the severe penalty previously noted. The clothes the Kohanim wore went beyond being merely an adornment; they literally made the Kohanim who they were, profoundly affecting the people who wore them. To read the explanation offered for this mitzvah given by the Sefer HaChinuch5, the Book of Mitzvah Education anonymously authored by a father for the purpose of educating his son, is like reading from the journal article previously cited – except the Chinuch wrote his book in the 13th century! The Chinuch states: “At the root of this mitzvah is a principle that has been firmly established for us, that man is influenced according to his actions, and after those actions, his thoughts and intentions follow. And the agent who brings atonement (ie, the Kohein) needs to focus all of his thoughts and intentions on the service at hand. Therefore, it’s fit for him to be clothed in special garments that when he will look at any place on his body, immediately, he will be reminded and arouse his heart before the One who he serves (ie, Hashem). “And for this reason, it was said that the length of the tunic was required to be on his entire body, until a bit above the heel and the length of the sleeve until the edge of his hand (ie, the wrist). And the length of the [Kohen Gadol’s] turban was 16 amos6– just shy of 10 metres long – and it surrounded his head in order that he would see it whenever he looked up. And the sash, with which he girded his hips, its length was 32 amos – almost 20 metres long – and it went round and round his body, wrapping upon wrapping, until we find that the Kohein would feel it at all times with his arms because of its thickness which resulted from the many wrappings.” Clothes invade the body and brain, putting the wearer into a different psychological state. And it wasn’t enough that the Kohein wore these clothes; the Chinuch emphasises just how important it was that the Kohein was actually cognizant – at all times – that he was wearing them, to the point that Hashem actually designed them so the Kohein’s body would be constantly rubbing up against the various pieces, as well as be seen by the Kohein from every angle that he gazed. But amazingly, the Chinuch continues that all of this was in addition to the matter of the honour that these garments provided for the Mishkan and for the service performed by the Kohanim, because, as a consequence of the Kohanim wearing these garments, the Mishkan would become magnified in people’s estimation, which would, in turn, soften the hearts of those who beheld the Kohanim in these garments, prompting those people to return to Hashem. In other words, the clothes weren’t designed only having in mind the influence they would have on the people who wore them, but for the effect they would have on the people who saw them being worn! And we see this also by other clothing that we are commanded by Hashem to wear. Regarding the four-cornered garment, which Kodesh Teachers & Assistant Rabbi Wanted St Ives Sydney Australia Our community is looking for a dynamic, passionate couple to teach in the ground breaking Torah Stream program in our community day school & become an integral part of a team of Rabbonim & lay leaders creating & bolstering religious infrastructure. Generous salary & immigration help available. Contact Rabbi Barak Cohen +61 450 006 288 rabbibarakcohen@staff.masada.nsw.edu.au