Tuesday 1 May 2018

Zevachim 18: Garments that Invalidate Priestly Service

If a priest does not wear all four of his garments, he invalidates his service.  The rabbis look for a prooftext for this assertion.  One source suggests that we know that one who drinks wine while serving in the Temple should not be allowed to serve.  This stands as a law for all times.  

Similarly, a priest who is wearing incomplete garments is unable to serve, and this is also forbidden for all time.  We learn that 'incomplete garments' include one who wears extra garments: two belts, two pairs of pants, etc.  Both a robe that is too high and one that is frayed from walking while wearing it are not allowed.  Other rabbis argue that it is sprinkling, etc., that would seriously affect a effectiveness of a priest's service.  

The rabbis spend much of their energies on describing different garments and how that clothing might be damaged.  We learn about linen and fine linen, which is made of flax that has been processed and twisted in a particular manner.  

Bottom line: a priest must wear the four parts of his garments and he must not drink alcohol to ensure that his service will be valid.  And because prayer takes the place of sacrifice, we must wear special garments for prayer - or at least we should dress in a special way when we pray.  

Some related notes: a Torah scroll must be wrapped in a beautiful garment.  Also, we should not rip our garments too much when we are mourning because we will be praying soon and our clothing should not be terribly torn when we pray. t

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