Dama Ben Nesina Is Immortalized Through Binyomin’s Stone Chazal tell us that one time the Avnei Yashfei from the Choshen were lost. The Chachomim located one in Ashkelon in the possession of a Dama ben Nesina. We all know the story how they wanted to buy it, but Dama would not wake his father up to sell it. This story is the paramount example of Kibud Av VaEim. The Meshech Chochma says that it is no coincindence that the lesson of Kibbud Av VaEim is learned through the Avnei Yashfei. Each stone had engraved on it the name of one Shevet. Teh Yashfei was the stone of Binyomin. Binyomin was the only one of the Shevatim that did not cause his father grief in the story of Yosef’s mechira. All the other Shevatim did not reveal the truth because of a Cheirem that that they agreed to (including Hashem, Yitzchok, and Yosef). Binyomin did not know about the Mechira and thus did not withhold any information from Yaakov. Since his Kibud Av was complete, the great lesson was learned from his stone.
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The Smell of A Rebel Returning Home Rav Yehonoson Eibshitz writes that there are two terms to describe one’s clothing. “Beged” which comes from the root word Boged or traitor and rebel. The other word is “Simla” which by reversing the letters means Shalem or Shleimus, complete. If so why are the Bigdei Kehuna of Aharon HaKoheim referred to as Begadim? The Mikor for this is the Medrash by Yaakov Avinu when he came to Yitzchok for a Bracha wearing Eisav’s clothing. The pasuk says (Toldos 27:27), “Vayarach Es Rei’ach Bigadav; Yitzchok smelled the fragrance of his clothing.” The Medrash says Rei’ach Bogdav, the smell of the rebellious ones in Bnei Yisrael. The most rebellious ones smelled beautifully, because Baalei Tshuva are higher when they return than Tzaddikim who never sinned. Similarly, Aharon played a role in the Chait HaEigel, and the Mishkan was a Kapara for that Chait. Each of Aharon’s eight garments were Michaper on a different Chait. This is why the Torah calls them Begadim. They had the beautiful scent of Chait turned into a Mitzva, and the rebel returning home.
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The Secret of The Honorable Clothing When Hashem commanded Moshe to make Bigdei Kehuna, He tells him that they are, “LiChavod U’L’Siferes; honor and glory.” (Titzaveh 27:2), In the next pasuk Hashem tells Moshe to tell the Chachmei Lev to make the Bigadim for Aharon, “LiKadsho U’L’Chahano Li; To make Me Holy and to Serve Me.” What are the Bigadim really for, Aharon’s glory or Hashem’s? Rav Meir Shapiro answers b’derech tzachus. He says that Moshe Rabbeinu was called Anav MiKol Adam, the most modest man. To him Hashem revealed that the secret behind The Bigdei Kehuna were honor and glory of Kedusha, and was not afraid it would go to his head. To others, however, this message can be misconstrued, and the honor may be to a degree personalized. Because of this, when Hashem told Moshe to talk to the Chachmei Lev, He told him to say the reason is to honor Hashem, in order not to taint the Avodah with Gaava, however slight, from any participants. “This,” says Rav Meir Shapiro, “helps explain the Yerushalmi (Taanis 11b) that says that during the Shivas Yimei Milu’im, Moshe was the Kohen Gadol, and his garment was a white robe without a stitched edge. How could Moshe, who vehemently avoided any honor, so easily acquiesce to becoming Kohen Gadol? The answer lies in unprotected garment. If the Kohen Gadol’s garment rips, he is oveir a Lav. In order to ensure this doesn’t happen, they reinforce the edge. Moshe only accepted the position because it was temporary, and therefore did not need to reinforce his edges.”
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Shatnez In the Bigdei Kehuna In the Slichos of Musaf on Yom Kippur, it is written that the Kisones Tashbaitz (the inner shirt of the Kohen Gadol) was made of Shatnez. This is very problematic, since the Pasuk clearly states that it was made of Shaish (linen) and not linen and wool. The Chasam Sofer answers with a Halacha in Shulchan Aruch (Yoreh Deah Siman Shin Sif 4). The Rema quotes a Yerushalmi, “If the under garment cannot be removed without taking off the outer garment first; and one is wool and the other is linen, it is Shatnez. Here, too, since the outer garment was the Mi’il, which was made of blue wool, and the inner garment was the Kisones Tashbaitz made of linen, and it is not possible to remove the Kisones without removing the Mi’il, it is Shatnez.”

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