By Rabbi Dovid Markel
This week’s parsha discusses the special clothing that the high-priest was to wear when he performed the service in the Holy of Holies in the Tabernacle and later the Temple. It is self-understood that there is tremendous significance even in the minutest detail of his clothing.
Among the clothing that the high-priest was to wear was a robe made of wool, dyed blue. In the description of this robe, the verse (Shemos 28:33) states: “And on its bottom hem you shall make pomegranates of blue, purple, and crimson wool, on its bottom hem all around, and golden bells in their midst all around.”
Clearly, the pomegranates that encircled the robe were not insignificant, but were expressive of an idea of immense meaning.
In Shir HaShirim, the verse (4:3) uses the portrayal, “your temple is like a split pomegranate,” as an allegorical description of Israel.
The Talmud (Chagigah 27a) states, that the above depiction alludes to “the transgressors of Israel.”
It explains, that though the verse uses the word “rakaseich,” which means “temples,” the word can also be read “reikanecha,” meaning “your empty ones.“ Even the “empty” Jews are “are full of good deeds as a pomegranate [is full of seeds].”
By depicting pomegranates on the hem of the high-priest’s clothing, the Torah is expressing that the mandate of the high-priest was to elevate those Jews that are referred to as transgressors, to the point that they too can enter the Holy of Holies.
This is the true mark of leadership. An authentic leader is not the individual that inspires those who are already inspired, but he is a person who cares about someone so far from his tradition, that the Torah refers to him as a transgressor.
Within this depiction, there is as well a lesson for us individuals that are not leaders. We should never become dejected that we are so far-gone in our connection to G-d and Torah, that we have no hope. Not only is a transgressor full of mitzvos like a pomegranate is full of seeds, but each and every Jew has the potential to re-enliven his connection to G-d, to the point that he merits to enter the Holy of Holies.
May this ultimately be realized with the coming of Moshiach, where each and every Jew will merit to enter the rebuilt Holy of Holies, speedily in our time[1]!
[1] Based on Likutei Sichos, 16, Pg. 336ff
