Divrei Tetzaveh
The Power of the Bigdei Kahuna
Hashem tells Moshe: “You
shall make clothes of sanctity for Aharon your brother, for glory and splendor.
. . . to sanctify him to minister to Me.” (Shmos 28:2-3) Chazal ask (in Erchin
16a) “Why is the parshah of korbanos placed next to that of the Bigdei Kahuna,
the Kohanic clothes? [The Torah is teaching us that] just as korbanos can atone,
so can Bigdei Kahuna. The Kesones atones for murder; the Michnasayim atone for
forbidden relationships; the Mitznefes atones for haughtiness; the Avnait atones
for improper thoughts; the Choshen atones for [twisted] judgment; the Ephod
atones for idol worship; the Me’il atones for loshon hara; and the Tzitz atones
for acts of chutzpah-like boldness.”
How can these clothes atone? The Kohanim were designated by Hashem to be the guides to all Jews on the path of spiritual elevation. Hand in hand with this task came their Avodah on behalf of Klal Yisroel in the Mishkan. Therefore, each of the Bigdei Kahuna, like each aspect of the Avodah, has a purpose and meaning. One of these purposes is to “fix” or atone for certain failings within Klal Yisroel, just as each korban atones for specific failings.
Tosfos there asks, “How does this list go together? Some sins seem to be relatively minor, yet they are placed next to the three sins – murder, forbidden relationships, and idol-worship – that a Jew must avoid, even if he loses his life by refusing?” Answers Tosfos: Really, the Bigdei Kahuna did not atone for the sins themselves. Rather, they atoned for the misuse of character traits (what is commonly called “bad midos”) associated with each sin. For example, the Tunic itself does not atone for murder; rather, it atones for the related sin of embarrassing another person in public – that is, it atones for all the misused midos of hatred, anger, etc. which could bring a Jew to commit such a lowly act. (see Bava Metzia 58b) Likewise, the Michnasayim do not atone for forbidden relationships; rather, they atone for the weaknesses of character that could bring a Jew to commit such ugly deeds – even if he never found the opportunity to do them.
Just as the Bigdei Kahuna play a central role in the Mishkan; likewise, all our avodas Hashem ultimately depends upon our proper use of character traits. As the anonymous author of Orchos Tzaddikkim says in his introduction, “If you do not have good midos, you do not have Torah and Mitzvos.”
This concept has no end; even when one reaches stratospheres of spirituality, midos determine the degree of success. Regarding the trait of zealousness, HaRav Chaim Vitale zt”l, the closest disciple of the Arizal, once asked his rebbe, “Why are you so much higher than me in Torah and Avodah?” The Arizal explained: “Because I tried.” Persisted Rav Vitale: “But I tried, too!” Answered the Arizal: “I tried harder.”