[Avodah] Pikudei

[Cantor Wolberg via Avodah]

Part of this portion goes into meticulous detail regarding the 'bigdei kehuna,"  (the clothing of the kohanim).  																																                      The word "beged," in addition to meaning "garment" can also mean "betrayal" ("bagad" to deal treacherously and "b'gidah" treachery).  																											                  [Ashamnu, Bagadnu]  What is this telling us?  Clothing, garments or vestments like anything else used improperly is a betrayal to what's right. 

When the garments were used for holiness, they were "bigdei hakodesh" (holy vestments). This term "bigdei hakodesh" (holy vestments) appears 																											in the Torah occasionally (Ex.39:1).  Where do we ever hear of holy garments?  Could you imagine going to Macy's and requesting a holy pair of jeans 																										[they'd probably refer you to the Salvation Army].  The word "kadosh" (holy) can also have the opposite meaning.  If the bigdei kehuna were properly utilized, 																									then there was Kedusha in the most positive sense.  But if not, it was a betrayal to HaShem and the kedusha reversed.   																																The word LIVE if abused, spells EVIL in reverse.

This emphasis upon detail is most conspicuous throughout this entire Sidrah. This brings to mind that human greatness is not achieved by a one-time 																									spectacular accomplishment – rather by the steady performance of duties and good deeds. Moshe saw greatness in the little things, 																														in the precise execution of orders and faithful attention to the minutiae of all God's mitzvot.

“And Moshe looked over all the work and behold! — they had done it as the Lord had commanded, so they had done. And Moshe blessed them." (39:43)   																										[Though the Torah doesn’t record the words of Moshe’s blessing, the Midrash states he recited the last verse of Psalm 90 (“Veehee noam…”).

The Talmud (Zevachim 88b) states that the Bigdei Kehuna (Priestly Clothing) achieved atonement for specific sins.

The oldest symbol for the hypocrite is that of a man who cloaks his true nature under a disguise.
Macbeth, Shakespeare