20 Feb PARASHAT TESAVEH: JEALOUSY AND LASHON HA’RA

Parashat Tesaveh
describes the
Bigdeh Kehuna –
the priestly garments,
which include the four special garments
worn by the Kohen Gadol, and the four
other garments worn by all Kohanim.
Our Sages tell us that these garments
were laden with special spiritual
power, and had the capacity to atone
for various sins. Thus, for example,
the Kohen Gadol’s Misnefet (turban),
which sat on top of the head, atoned for
sins involving arrogance and feelings of
superiority. The Sitz, which the Kohen
Gadol wore on his forehead, atoned for
gall and brazenness.
Another garment worn by the Kohen
Gadol was the Me’il, or robe, which
atoned for the sin of Lashon Ha’ra –
negative speech about other people.
The robe was lined on the bottom with
bells that rang as the Kohen Gadol
walked, and the Gemara comments

that this “noise” produced by the Me’il
atoned for the “noise” of gossip and
other forms of inappropriate speech.
Rav Avraham Pam (1913-2001) noted
an additional dimension of this function
of the Me’il. The atonement for Lashon
Ha’ra was achieved not only because of
the bells, but also because of the first
person who wore the Me’il – Aharon,
the first Kohen Gadol. Aharon had
numerous outstanding qualities, but
perhaps foremost among them was the
absence of jealousy. When his younger
brother, Moshe, was chosen by God to
become the leader of Beneh Yisrael,
Aharon did not feel any jealousy,
and to the contrary, he rejoiced over
Moshe’s good fortune (as indicated
by the Torah, Shemot 4:14). He felt no
resentment whatsoever, despite the fact
that throughout the years Moshe spent
in Midyan, Aharon had been working
selflessly leading the people who were
suffering as slaves in Egypt. Aharon is

the prime example of
how to avoid jealousy,
of accepting G-d’s
decisions and one’s
lot without envying
other people.
This is how the Kohen
Gadol’s robe atoned
for Lashon Ha’ra –
because it was first
worn by Aharon, who
embodied this vital
quality of avoiding jealousy. People
generally speak negatively about others
because of jealousy. Another person’s
success makes us feel uncomfortable
and insecure, and so we feel the need
to knock him down, to find something
critical to say about him. This way,
we ease the discomfort we feel over
his success or good fortune. In order
to avoid Lashon Ha’ra, we need to get
to the root of the problem, which is, in
many cases, jealousy. We need to look

to the inspiring example of Aharon
Ha’kohen, who teaches us to accept
whatever role and position G-d gives us
and gives others. We are to feel content
with what we have, knowing that G-d
knows best and decided that this is
what we need. When we live with this
awareness, we will feel content and at
ease even if we see others with more,
and we will then be able to speak only
positively and admiringly about our
peers, without the destructive negativity
that currently plagues so many of us.