Judaism's SURPRISING view on fasion and leadership (Parshas Tetzaveh)

Jewish leadership is like an archaeologist anybody can dig but an archaeologist knows where to dig and most people dig they don't know what they're doing they're going to come up with dirt an archis just digs and it's going to come up with value okay friends we are back in this week's Torah portion among the many themes and Mitzvah that are discussed are the various articles of clothing that the kle that the high priest is to wear God is so strict about these clothing about the Cen GLE the high priest dressing for the job when serving to the extent that if he doesn't dress for the job he doesn't just get fired from his position but there's actually fatal consequences why why are the clothing that he wears such a big deal it seems so superficial I mean do the service right do the job right have the right intentions put your heart in the right place you're dressed incorrectly you don't just get fired there's fatal consequences what is going on here man okay let's take a step back let's understand the purpose the context for which there is this Cohen serving in the first place that there is this T Temple Sanctuary that a Coen is serving in in the first place the Jewish people received the Torah at Mount Si an incredible Revelation an incredible experience of God finally exposing himself and it didn't last it was an inspiration that was not sustainable we sin several weeks later with the golden calf and it it's just not going to work so God says build the sanctuary and you're going to come to me when you're ready and the representative of all the Jewish people is the Coen the high priest when he goes into the holy Into The KES into this Sacred Space on a daily basis why does he need to dress correctly each one of his clothing articles there were eight of them represent something else and I'd like to share with you three diverse clothing articles and how they represent core Jewish identity if the Coen GLE is going to enter and perform this service and there is any facet of Jewish identity and connection missing that's a problem we have the Mish the breastplate that has 12 distinct Stones each one of these Stones representing another of the 12 tribes each of the 12 tribes have to shine and illuminate in their own way and this breastplate is placed on the heart of the coal representing the righteous Jews who have their heart in the right place who are emotionally attuned with their soul identity who are passionate and really care about what they do and put their fiber and being into their relationship with God into their mission in this world then we had two stones one on each shoulder the top of the a foot on the top of the apron that hooked up to the shoulder again representing the tribes of Israel on each of the stones respectively there were six tribes six and six the 12 tribes were etched on there little bit closer to the back further from the heart the Jewish people that are less emotionally attuned but maybe they'd like to be more emotionally attuned they're there but they're just trying to feel it they're trying to experience it but they're not as engaged they're not as emotionally conscious of their soul their mission their purpose but they're trying to do their best then you have The Robe of the con GLE and on the bottom of the robe around its Rim around its seam there were decorative pomegranates and bells noise makers you have the Jewish people that are all the way quote unquote on the bottom and are just making noise they're just focused on outer behavior and even then it's just it just seems like noise they don't feel like they're really involved they seem quite isolated from their faith isolated from their identity the Coen godal has to wear garments that represent every gamut of Jewish identity and he has to wear that into the holies and perform the service he has to represent everybody and if he's missing anybody doesn't matter who it is if he's missing anybody he's doing the service incorrectly he's not doing a service to the jewi Jewish people but a disservice because everybody has to be a part of this the job of the K is to inspire the Jewish people is to elevate the Jewish people Coen GLE would light the manur he would light up the fire of the Jewish people he would Inspire them but his job is not just to connect us to God and connect us with our faith what he's there to actually do is reveal our inner faith our pre-existent inner Faith reveal to us that you won't be more Jewish if you do these Mitzvah if you do these behaviors if you get more involved but rather you are essentially connected to God so now do these Mitzvah get more involved because it is essentially who you are at heart even if you find yourselves in the rim of the coen's garments just making noise that is who you are at heart I'm going to take you into the holies because at soul and heart that is your identity that Goen gal has to recognize this it's so important that the way we look at the Jewish Community look at Jews for who they are not just what they do but what we do in Jewish observance is a product of who we are it doesn't Define who we are it's just a product of who we are I'm Jewish because of who I am and therefore I'll try my best to behave that way but I'm not a child of God because I decided to behave that way people don't become spouses just because they take on marital responsibilities people are married therefore they have Mar responsibilities we're in a relationship with God our souls bound with God therefore we have responsibilities as Jews and the co God will recognize this and thought even and realize even if they are not there emotionally or even if they are we're all coming together with that K Into The KES into the holies and we're going to be elevated it's time we shift the way we look at Jews and that is the job of the co that is the job of Jewish leadership to not judge our action I mean we have we have officers and judges that have the job of doing that but the job of Jewish leadership is to connect the N is to connect Jews to their soul is to bring out that faith that we already have to bring them into the holies where they are standing now enter that holies and be inspired be uplifted somebody once asked the what is the purpose of Jewish leadership what is the purpose of what is the goal the re told the person that is like an archaeologist Jewish leadership is like an archaeologist anybody can dig but an archaeologist knows where to dig and most people dig if they don't know what they're doing they're going to come up with dirt an archaeologist digs and is going to come up with value the Reit told him that Freud knew how to dig and would come up with dirt in people the essence of people is evil and selfish and negative Adler same story but the real job of Jewish leadership is to dig into anybody and bring out Wells Springs bring out real value bring out the beauty the goal of real Jewish leadership is to bring every single Jew into the holies into the temple into this space of God and help them actualize their potential because you're looking at who they are not just what they do that's my story and sticking to it