Priestly Garments and Jewish Holiness

The Priestly Garments and Jewish Holiness

The red dye scarlet wool of the priestly garments is made from worms. How can this make sense? Isn’t someone that is holier greater than another. Jews don’t think that. We are all on the same playing field. In fact, for the rich, Rabbis tend to treat them more mercifully. They do not have the time a priest has to dedicate to holiness. Not as much is expected for people not in religious positions, and thus mercy is permissive for nonobservance among Jews. Teachers are judged more harshly, and it is a capital crime to falsely teach, but the rest of Jews are not held to this standard. Rather, than thinking that one is greater than another, the Jewish idea of is that those that are holy tend to see the equality among all of Creation, capitalized because it is the idea of the Almighty. A rich man might be repulsed by this garment. However, the high priest accepts it. The dye of the worm tells us that he is no greater than a worm.

“Do not think that by worshipping with deveikut 1 you are greater than another. You are like any other creature, created for the sake of His worship, blessed be He. God gave a mind to the other just as He gave a mind to you.

What makes you superior to a worm? The worm serves the Creator with all its mind and strength! 2 Man, too, is a worm and maggot, as it is written “I am a worm and no man.” (Psalms 22:7) If God had not given you intelligence you would not be able to worship Him but like a worm. Thus you are no better than a worm, and certainly [no better] than [other] people.

Bear in mind that you, the worm and all other small creatures are considered as equals in the world. For all were created and have but the ability given to them by the blessed Creator. 3

Always keep this matter in mind.” – The Baal Shem Tov

"he must abandon all awareness of “self” or “seeking” and attain a state in which everything exists for him in a state of “absolute equality.” When a person attains this state, he is in touch with his soul’s essence — a level beyond the very concepts of “higher” and “lower,” and on which he is completely nullified before G-d’s will. Such a person has attained the Holy of Holies."

(Based on Likkutei Sichos, Vol. XXIX, pp. 71-78)

"The crimson color is produced from a worm called by the Bible the "crimson worm," tola'at shani in Hebrew, a mountain worm which has been identified as kermes biblicus, the cochineal insect." -
http://www.templeinstitute.org/priestly_garments.htm