Last week, in Parshat Metzora, we learned that sometimes, a person's house might get spots, as a warning to that person to do teshuva and change his ways. In this week's parsha, we'll learn about how teshuva was accomplished for the Jewish people through the special service done by the Kohein Gadol, the holiest person in the world, in the holiest place in the world, on the holiest day of the year - Yom Kippur.
Holy Work
HaShem said to Moshe, "Remember what happened to Aharon's sons, Nadav and Avihu, when they entered the Kodesh Hakedashim (Holy of Holies) without permission? Even though their intentions were good, they lost their lives. Tell Aharon to be very careful not to make the mistake they made. I am going to give him instructions for performing the Yom Kippur service, and he must follow them exactly!"
Moshe knew that Yom Kippur was the holiest day of the year – the day that HaShem said to Moshe, "Salachti Kidvarecha" - "I will forgive (the Jews for the sin of the golden calf) just as you requested." It would forever be a day of asking and receiving forgiveness from HaShem.
HaShem gave Moshe detailed instructions for the special service Aharon, the Kohein Gadol, would do:
"No one but Aharon may ever enter the Kodesh Hakedashim. And even Aharon may enter only on Yom Kippur, and only four times on that day, to do exactly what I am about to explain to you. First of all, Aharon should not wear all eight of his special garments when he goes into the Kodesh Hakedashim. Instead, he should wear only the four that are pure, white linen, without any gold ornaments."
On the day of forgiveness, Aharon definitely would not want to wear anything gold, since that might give a reason for the accusing angel to say to HaShem, "Gold! Just like the calf they made of gold! Remember their sin!" Wearing only white symbolizes purity and forgiveness, and these are the qualities that Jews hope to bring out on such a holy day.
The Kohein Gadol changed his clothes five times over the course of the day, each time purifying himself by immersing in a mikveh (special pool of water), and washing his hands and feet before and after each dip.
HaShem taught Moshe all of the details of the Kohein Gadol's special Yom Kippur service, which included ketoret (incense) offerings, a lottery, and two goats, one sacrificed and one sent into the desert - in addition to all of the usual daily sacrifices. He also said a special prayer on behalf of all of the Jewish people: "Please, HaShem, send rain and sun in the proper amounts this year, so that food will grow in abundance and there will be plenty for every Jew."
