Why does it matter?

This week two portions are read and we are finishing the book of Shemot or Exodus. In this week’s portions are Vaykayel and Pekudei.

The prophet and the kohen are to wear different clothes. Why? Clothes set us apart and can designate authority. The prophets were in and out of the peoples’ lives and carried different messages to them from HaShem. The Kohen’s position was the same forever. Their job was never changing. The clothing further set them apart when they served in the temple. The temple’s and HaShem’s glory and magnificence was further highlighted with the Kohen’s clothing.

What does that tell us about our role today as we serve HaShem and are in public? As the prophets are roles are multiple we do not have a dress code as the kohens. Our dress is to be modest so to draw attention to the inner person not the outer shell. This doesn’t mean to be frumpy, but classy and modest. It applies to us as women as well as to the men.

In today’s society the outer person is judged to be who we are at first glance. If dressed in a classy, modest manner more attention will be paid to who we are as a person, what we said and what we do. That means that our walk before the Most High with be highlighted instead of what we wear and what the clothes draw attention to for others to see.

This means our walk before the Holy One Blessed be He included our outerwear, our walk, our speech and all that others may notice about us. May what we wear not distract others from the walk that sheds the light of HaShem in this world. It’s not popular to dress in a modest fashion, yet I am seeing modest classy clothing in store more often now. As people to carry the light of HaShem to the world and not hide it we must consider even our clothing and what message that carries. As you prepare your home for Pesach removing chametz consider your closets and what can be removed to make room for clothing that speaks of your role as the daughter or son of the Most High.

1. Tzniut includes a group of laws concerned with modesty, in both dress and behavior (eg: personal modesty). Dressing Like a Jew!

by Rut Etalka