15:39, 40 “וראיתם אתו וזכרתם...למען תזכרו”
“You shall see it and remember ....so that you shall remember.”
Why does the Torah need to tell us twice that we should remember the mitzvos?
There is a close relationship between our clothing and our moral calling as human beings. This is evident from the historical origin of clothing. Adam and Chava were in Gan Eden and were given one command: not to eat from the Eitz Hada’as. They did not heed the command, and they sinned and ate from the Eitz Hada’as. As a result, the Torah says that they needed clothing to cover themselves. The Torah tells us that man transgressed Hashem’s command because he strayed after his heart and eyes and regarded as “good” anything that in the judgment of his greedy eye and his sensual gratification-seeking mind would provide him with satisfaction. Following the dictates of his eyes and heart, he sank to the level of intelligence of the animal, which, in choosing what to pursue and what to avoid, is guided solely by the inclination of its heart and the perception of its eyes. Man was instructed to cover his animal nakedness, and the instruction was confirmed by Hashem when He provided man with garments. (ר' הירש)
Chazal say regarding a ba’al teshuva that if he usually learns one page of Gemara, he should learn two pages. Like a string that rips and one wants to fix it at the place of the rip, one must make it thick where the knot will be tied so that it will not tear again. Similarly, regarding a ba’al teshuva, since he caused destruction through his sin, he must work extra hard in that area in order to strengthen it so that it does not become torn again. (יצב אברהם)
Prior to the sin of the Eitz Hada’as, clothing was not needed, for the difference between man and animal was apparent. However, after the sin, it was no longer apparent. Man did not live up to what should have been, to use his intellect and follow the command of Hashem. Thus, man always needs clothes to remember that he is not an animal and that he must not follow after his base desires. Rather, one must follow the ways of Hashem. Hakodosh Boruch Hu gave us the mitzvah of tzitzis so that we can remember that sin was what caused us to need clothes and that we must follow all the mitzvos of the Torah.
However, a single remembering is not enough for us; we must have a double one. The “strings” of the tzitzis are like ropes to remind us that when a rope tears, in order to securely re-attach it, a double knot is needed. We must make a double knot in tzitzis to ensure that we follow the proper path of Hashem.
Clothing is meant to elevate the person, to make a clear distinction that he is not an animal and is not in this world just to follow after his base physical desires. This means that one needs to dress properly in an honorable manner. Certain dress will not only not bring one closer to Hashem and His mitzvos but, rather, further demonstrates how he is just following his base desires.
May we be zoche to truly internalize the mitzvah of tzitzis and to heed all of the mitzvos of the Torah.
