04 Mar KI TISA: OUR “PRIESTLY” SHABBAT GARMENTS

Parashat Ki-
Tisa begins by

completing the
Torah’s discussion of
the construction of
the Mishkan. In the
previous Parashiyot, we read of the building
and its furnishings, as well as the special
garments worn by the Kohanim and the
procedure required for their consecration.
The Torah now completes its discussion
by presenting a number of additional laws,
such as the mandatory annual half-shekel
tax (“Mahasit Ha’shekel”), the washing
basin at the entrance of the Mishkan (Kiyor),
the Ketoret (incense), the anointing oil
(Shemen Ha’mish’ha), and the designation
of Besalel as the chief artisan who would
oversee the project.
Having concluded its discussion of
the Mishkan, the Torah then speaks of
Shabbat, and the strict prohibition against
its desecration. Rashi (31:13) explains
that the command of Shabbat appears
here to indicate that the construction of
the Mishkan did not override the Shabbat
prohibitions. Hashem was telling the
people that as important as it was to
build the Mishkan, the place where the
Shechina would reside, this project did not

supersede the laws of Shabbat, and so the
work was to be discontinued on Shabbat.
The Klausenberger Rebbe (Rav Yekutiel
Yehuda Halberstam, 1905-1994) finds
specific significance in the juxtaposition
between the command of Shabbat and the
immediately preceding verses. Just before
the command of Shabbat in our Parasha,
Hashem instructs that Besalel should lead
the project to construct the Mishkan, and He
lists all the various items which Besalel and
his team were responsible for making. Near
the end this list we find “Bigdeh Ha’kodesh
Le’Aharon Ahicha, Ve’et Bigdeh Banav
Le’chahen” – the priestly garments (31:10).
The juxtaposition between these verses, the
Rebbe explained, alludes to the importance
of Bigdeh Shabbat – the special garments
to be worn on Shabbat. Just as the Kohanim
were required to wear special garments
when they served in the holiest place – the
Mishkan – so must we all wear special
garments on the holiest day, Shabbat. Our
special Shabbat clothes are our “Bigdeh
Kehuna,” our “priestly garments,” that we
are obligated to wear in order to properly
respect the sacred day of Shabbat.
The Klausenberger Rebbe notes in this
context the famous tradition (Talmud
Yerushalmi, Ta’anit 1:1) that if the Jewish

People would properly observe one Shabbat,
we would then be worthy of Mashiah’s
arrival. The reason, the Rebbe explains, is
based on a passage in the Midrash (Bereshit
Rabba 65:16) in which Rabban Shimon Ben
Gamliel extols the extraordinary lengths
that Esav went to for the sake of honoring
his father, Yishak Abinu. While Esav was,
in general, sinful, he excelled in the area of
Kibbud Ab. Rabban Shimon mentions that
Esav would prepare food for his father and
would then change into his fine garments
before serving him, so he would look
respectable. He ensured to wear special
clothing when serving his father in order
to show honor and respect. By the same
token, the Klausenberger Rebbe writes, on
Shabbat, Hashem comes into our homes,
and we are spending the day with Him. It is
only fitting, then, that we wear special, fine
clothing in His honor. The merit through
which Esav’s descendants have been able to
succeed and prosper, and keep us in exile,
is his outstanding devotion to Kibbud Ab,
his showing great honor to his father. The
way we end this exile, then, is by showing
this same level of honor to Hashem – and
we do this through our Bigdeh Shabbat, by
dressing in honor of Shabbat the way Esav
dressed in honor of his father.

“Dressing down” has become the norm
in our society. People are no longer
encouraged to dress formally for work, or
for other events. While this policy may
have merit in the context of the workplace,
we must ensure not to embrace it with
regard to Shabbat. On Shabbat, we become
like Kohanim, as we are in the Shechina’s
presence, like the Kohanim in the Bet
Ha’mikdash. Thus, like the Kohanim, we
are obliged to wear our “Bigdeh Kehuna,”
our special garments through which we
show our honor and reverence for the
Almighty.