A Double Standard

by Rabbi Mordechai Rhine

The Kohein Gadol was special. Even among the Kohanim who served in the Beis Hamikdash,  the Kohein Gadol was the chosen one. To the public, his was a powerful position. He had the ability to lead and to rebuke as necessary. In private, he was the chosen one who would offer the special prayer on behalf of the Jewish people on Yom Kippur. The Kohein Gadol was the only one who would enter the Kodesh Kadoshim, the holiest place of the Beis Hamikdash.

Interestingly, the Kohein Gadol had two sets of garments. One set, which included quite a bit of gold, was worn by the Kohein Gadol throughout the year. The second set was made of white, and was worn only on Yom Kippur when the Kohein Gadol entered the Kodesh Kadoshim.

Jewish tradition explains the need of two sets of garments as follows. It would be improper for the representative of the Jewish people to enter the Kodesh Kadoshim for his personal audience with Hashem, while wearing gold which reminds (among other things) of the golden calf. When the Kohein Gadol enters the inner chamber, he must not bear any reminder of that sin.

Rav Sorotzkin (Oznayim Latorah) asks: If indeed the golden garments did, on some level, remind of the sin of the golden calf, then why would the Kohein Gadol wear them at all? Rav Sorotzkin answers that the theme here is indeed one of double standard. When the Kohein Gadol was among his people it was good and proper that they should be reminded of their faults, past and present. But when entering the private audience with Hashem, no reminder of bad should be present. Only the good should be mentioned. In public the Kohein Gadol should be leading the people in constant improvement and growth, trouble shooting flaws and working to fix them. But in the Kodesh Kadoshim, when no person was present, only praise for the Jewish people should be mentioned.

Sometimes in life it is necessary to note areas that need improvement. This is represented by the golden garments which allow for an allusion to the sin of the golden calf. Such garments were worn when the Kohein Gadol was seen before the people. But in the privacy of our prayers, and our personal perspective, the attitude must be that the Jewish people are wonderful and precious. “Even the ’empty ones’ are filled with merit like a pomegranate is filled with seeds.” For that private audience, only the white garments may be worn.

Picture the scene of a grandfather approaching the Rosh Yeshiva asking how his grandson is doing. The Rosh Yeshiva will certainly mention only the good, even if there is constructive criticism that  might at times be shared with the boy, and possibly with the parents. But to the grandfather, there is nothing to be gained by being critical. The image portrayed is therefore one of pure nachas. Everything is good and precious. The heartfelt statement is, “Your grandson is just so special.”

Rabbi Paysach Krohn relates that he was once entering the Kosel plaza on an extremely hot day, and he encountered a Jew in a wheelchair, holding an umbrella to protect himself from the heat. On the man’s lap was a Tehillim. The man was apparently a regular at the Kosel, and he was not going to let the intensely hot weather deter him from his daily pilgrimage. And so, Rabbi Krohn approached him and his aide. After greeting them, Rabbi Krohn asked, “Do you mind if I take a picture of you?”  The man asked, “Why?” Rabbi Krohn waved his hand in a motion that took in the sun, the umbrella, and the Tehillim, and said pleasantly, “Ani Oheiv Yehudim/ Because I love Jews.”

Three times a day we stand in prayer in our own personal audience with Hashem. The lesson of the white garments is that during that audience we should shed the golden garments perspective. Instead, we strive to see the positive and build upon it. “How are things?” Hashem asks. And we answer, “Your people are very special. They are very devoted, and sincere in their observance of mitzvos.”

And Hashem echoes our attitude and declares, “Ani Oheiv Yehudim.”

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