This week's parashah discusses the clothes of the kohein gadol and the me'il, which had pomegranates and bells along its hem. According to Rashi, they were successive: a pomegranate, a bell, a pomegranate, a bell, etc. The Ramban, however, says that only the pomegranates hung off the hem. The bells were inserted inside the pomegranates. As the Ramban writes, "the pomegranates were hollow.... and the bells were hidden inside them... "
The Chasam Sofer (Pekudei) writes that both explanations are correct. The bells and pomegranates hung successively on the me'il (as Rashi taught) but also as the Ramban taught because each pomegranate had a bell inside it. So, according to the Chasam Sofer, there were two types of bells. Some bells hung directly off the me'il's hem, and some bells were inserted in the pomegranates.
The Chasam Sofer writes, "If I weren't afraid to say it, I would say that both explanations [Rashi's and the Ramban's] are the words of the living G-d [both explanations are simultaneously true]. A bell was sewn on the me'il, and after it, a pomegranate with a bell inside. This was the pattern on the me'il."
What do these two types of bells signify?
The Chasam Sofer answers, "The Gemara says that the me'il atoned for lashon hara. I think that it isn't only lashon hara [that the me'il atoned for], but also for one’s pride about the good that he does. [He boasts] 'I did these good deeds,' [because] this is just like lashon hara... The bells atoned for lashon hara, and the bells within the pomegranates atoned for those filled with mitzvos like a pomegranate who announced their good deeds in public."
It isn't proper to publicize one's good deeds. They should remain concealed and private between you and Hashem. The Chasam Sofer considers revealing one's good deeds to be like lashon hara.
Tzedakah is an exception to the rule. Sometimes, it is permissible, and even advisable, to publicize the tzedakah one gives. The Rashba writes, "Someone who donated an item to tzedakah and wants his name to be on it so that it will be eternally remembered, we don’t prevent him. On the contrary, it is proper to do so. This is the way of chachamim and the custom of the righteous, to reward those who do mitzvos." (Teshuvas HaRashba, quoted in Darkei Moshe, Yorah Dei'ah, 247:1) The Rema, in Shulchan Aruch (Yorah Dei'ah 249:13) also states, "One shouldn’t brag about tzedakah that he gave. If he brags, not only does he lose his reward, but he is also punished from Above. Nevertheless, when one dedicates something for tzedakah, he may write his name on it so his name will be remembered, and it is proper to do so." The Chasam Sofer explains that this is alluded to in the pasuk (Tehillim 112:9) לאביונים פזר נתן, "He distributes [money] to the poor." פזר is roshei teivos for פעמון זהב ורימון, "a gold bell and a pomegranate." The bell rings from within the pomegranate, representing someone who is publicizing the tzedakah that he gave, but nevertheless, וצדקתו עומדת לעד, "his tzedakah remains forever." The publicity doesn't ruin it.
