Parshat Tetzaveh
by Rabbi Avi Billet
The opening instructions for the clothing of the Kohen Gadol focus on how the “Chachmei Lev” (the skilled artisans) are to take the donated materials and fashion the special garments of Kohanim.
In his comments on the beginning of the Parsha, R Yosef B’Chor Shor makes two points of significance.
1. When the Kohanim are standing in the service of God, they are to wear these special uniforms, and not to dress in “Bigdei Chol” (weekday clothes), which is not considered properly respectful.
This point reminds us that when we are engaged in holy activities we should do our part to dress the part. This is why some people enhance their outfit for prayer, and certainly for the holy days of Shabbos and Yom Tov. It is also why people at least have in their mind "these are my wedding clothes," or similar thought processes, when it comes to certain articles of clothing in their closet.
While it is not as common in my field, I personally reserve white-only shirts for Shabbos, Yom Tov, weddings, and sometimes funerals. When a person wears suits/jackets and ties daily, it is harder to set aside suits specifically for Shabbos - they get worn, they get cleaned, they get used for all purposes when appropriate.
Those who wish to live up to this ideal that follows the model of the Kohanim and their garments might want to consider having specific garments set aside for Shabbos and Yom Tov and for special occasions. At the very least these garments should be a little nicer than those for weekdays - but as long as one knows "this is how I make Shabbos and Yom Tov different," with specific clothing items designated for those special times, one is certainly on the right path.
B'chor Shor's second idea:
2. The instruction is given to the people to assure Aharon has what he needs to best do his job of serving the people in his capacity as Kohen Gadol. They should not have it fall on Aharon to hire someone to make his clothes – it should come as an initiative of the people.
This is a dicey situation for us to consider, because in reality we don't have kohanim serving in the Mishkan/Mikdash today, leaving us to wonder if there is a parallel in our world.
There is a kollel that I support with consistent donations throughout the year, and the Rosh Kollel has told me that while the members of the kollel manage on minimal funds throughout the year - by choice - he does try to help them buy a "used suit" once a year. This suit becomes the Shabbos/Yom Tov suit, and the former Shabbos/Yom Tov suit becomes the kollel member's daily suit which he wears every weekday of the year until the suit is worn out. Then, per the cycle a new "used suit" is purchased again, becoming the Shabbos suit, when last year's "new suit" once again becomes the weekday one.
Personally having a sensitivity to clothing looking nice and presentable, I was recently talking to a rabbinical colleague (with whom I feel close enough to comment about these things) - he cares less about externalities - and I told him that as a Rov, he has a responsibility to look a little more put together. This is not about wearing expensive clothing! But it is about choosing a little better in terms of what he wears, for example, when serving in his capacity as Rabbi of his Kehillah, versus when he is on vacation and no one knows who he is. An unironed shirt, a white shirt that doesn't look white, an unkempt tie, a not-as-clean-as-it-could-be suit, etc., are unbefitting his role as a rabbi.
Having said that, it is understandable if he can't afford to maintain such a wardrobe, which may arguably put the onus of a minimal aspect of his wardrobe on his kehillah to maintain or sponsor.
No, he is not a kohen or a Kohen Gadol. But in our world, a person in that position is our spiritual leader. While he does not have to be a clothing-model, in whatever capacity possible, a budget should be considered so that his clothing can help him look the part of the dignified spiritual representative he is to his congregation.
B'chor Shor noted that the clothing of the Kohanim were the responsibility of the community of the Jewish people, and was not meant to be placed on Aharon and sons as a burden they had to bear or sponsor.
The parallel is not exactly the same - but if it is, then whatever help can be given to those in these positions should be granted so our communities' representatives can adequately look the part we hope for them to fill.
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