[Avodah] Pikudei

[Micha Berger via Avodah]

On Sun, Mar 19, 2017 at 09:46:57AM -0400, Cantor Wolberg via Avodah wrote:
: 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.

Another possibility: A uniform allows the person to hide so that one
focuses on the office. Uniforms thus allow something like kehunah,
where the office is gained by inheritance rather than merit.

A kohein without his begadim violates zar haqareiv yumas -- he is
in this sense in the same class as a non-kohein who tries to serve.

In contrast, during the 8 days of milu'im, Moshe Rabbeinu served
without the special uniform. Because he served as being what it
took to be a kohein, not just someone in the office of kohein.

Thus a uniform is a beged, in that it hides the individual to present
you with something else. Thus similarly to livgod, the person who
hides being foe by pretending to be friend.

Tir'u baTov!
-Micha

-- 
Micha Berger             It's never too late
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