This sheet on Exodus 28 was written by Alissa Thomas-Newborn for 929 and can also be found here
Does the clothing really make the man (or woman)?
The 28th chapter of Exodus certainly seems to say so. It outlines the clothing that the kohen gadol (high priest) must wear. “The priestly garments shall be worn by Aaron and by his sons when they enter the Tent of Meeting or when they approach the altar to serve in the Holy, so they will not bear iniquity and die.” Rashi explains that if any requirement related to the clothing is not heeded, not only is the life of the high priest at stake, but it will invalidate the entire sacrifice being offered!
In Judaism, we are used to focusing on what’s inside, not what’s outside, in our spiritual service of God. So we can’t help but wonder-- why here is clothing so important?
What the high priest wears isn’t normal clothing. It’s ‘spiritual clothing’. Each item represents the values, prayers, and voices of all of Israel.
For example, two shoham stones were engraved with the names of the tribes and the stones were placed on the shoulder straps of the ephod. The Torah explains, “Aaron shall carry their
names before the Lord upon his two shoulders as a remembrance”. Why? The stones at once represent unity and diversity. The unity of every Jew coming together, and the diversity within those many names and voices. Through the shoham stones in his clothing, Aaron spiritually carries all of us in his service of God.
Without each detail of the clothing, the Jewish people wouldn’t be fully spiritually represented. This is certainly enough to disqualify the sacrifices offered and compromise the high priest’s ability to lead. And so, the clothing doesn’t just make the man-- it makes the spiritual service of the nation.
Pick one item of clothing in this chapter and unravel the meaning within!
The 28th chapter of Exodus certainly seems to say so. It outlines the clothing that the kohen gadol (high priest) must wear. “The priestly garments shall be worn by Aaron and by his sons when they enter the Tent of Meeting or when they approach the altar to serve in the Holy, so they will not bear iniquity and die.” Rashi explains that if any requirement related to the clothing is not heeded, not only is the life of the high priest at stake, but it will invalidate the entire sacrifice being offered!
In Judaism, we are used to focusing on what’s inside, not what’s outside, in our spiritual service of God. So we can’t help but wonder-- why here is clothing so important?
What the high priest wears isn’t normal clothing. It’s ‘spiritual clothing’. Each item represents the values, prayers, and voices of all of Israel.
For example, two shoham stones were engraved with the names of the tribes and the stones were placed on the shoulder straps of the ephod. The Torah explains, “Aaron shall carry their
names before the Lord upon his two shoulders as a remembrance”. Why? The stones at once represent unity and diversity. The unity of every Jew coming together, and the diversity within those many names and voices. Through the shoham stones in his clothing, Aaron spiritually carries all of us in his service of God.
Without each detail of the clothing, the Jewish people wouldn’t be fully spiritually represented. This is certainly enough to disqualify the sacrifices offered and compromise the high priest’s ability to lead. And so, the clothing doesn’t just make the man-- it makes the spiritual service of the nation.
Pick one item of clothing in this chapter and unravel the meaning within!
(מג) וְהָיוּ֩ עַל־אַהֲרֹ֨ן וְעַל־בָּנָ֜יו בְּבֹאָ֣ם ׀ אֶל־אֹ֣הֶל מוֹעֵ֗ד א֣וֹ בְגִשְׁתָּ֤ם אֶל־הַמִּזְבֵּ֙חַ֙ לְשָׁרֵ֣ת בַּקֹּ֔דֶשׁ וְלֹא־יִשְׂא֥וּ עָוֺ֖ן וָמֵ֑תוּ חֻקַּ֥ת עוֹלָ֛ם ל֖וֹ וּלְזַרְע֥וֹ אַחֲרָֽיו׃ (ס)
(43) They shall be worn by Aaron and his sons when they enter the Tent of Meeting or when they approach the altar to officiate in the sanctuary, so that they do not incur punishment and die. It shall be a law for all time for him and for his offspring to come.
Rabbanit Alissa Thomas-Newborn is a member of the spiritual leadership at B'nai David-Judea Orthodox Congregation in LA, and is a Board Certified Chaplain.
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