This week’s Parsha details the clothing of the Kohen and the Kohen Gadol (priest and high priest). Very few descriptions of articles of clothing are found in the Chumash aside from here and Yosef’s famous coat. Aaron, Moshe’s brother, was the first Kohen Gadol. Only Aaron’s direct descendants could be Kohanim. The only way to become a priest is to be born a priest on your father’s side.
The Gemara in Mesechet Shabbos Daf 31A , tells a story.
Once someone overheard a class learning this week’s parsha, regarding the clothing for the high priest and wanted to convert and become the Kohen Gadol. The man traveled to the two great scholars of the day. First he visited Shamai and asked to be converted on the condition he would be made Kohen Gadol. Shamai chased him away with a builders rod. Then the man visited Hillel with the same request and Hillel welcomed him in.
Amazingly, Hillel agreed to convert the man. Hillel, however, gave the man some advice. 'If you wanted to be king, you would need to learn the ways and customs of the royal court. Since you aspire to be the high priest, go study the appropriate laws.'
So the new convert began studying Torah. One day, he came across the verse, "Any non-priest who participates [in the holy service] shall die" (Num. 3:10). 'To whom does this refer?' he asked. Even King David, he was told. Even David, king of Israel, was not allowed to serve in the holy Temple, as he was not a descendant of Aaron the Kohen.
The convert was amazed. Even those born Jewish, and who are referred to as God's children, are not allowed to serve in the Temple! Certainly, a convert may not perform this holy service. Recognizing his mistake, he returned to Hillel, saying, 'May blessings fall on your head, humble Hillel, for drawing me under the wings of the Divine Presence.'
‘Don’t judge a book by its cover, it is the least we can do for one another.’
A man named Moshie once went to a Rabbi and said, “Rabbi can you make me a Kohen? I will give you 1 million dollars”. The Rabbi responded I can't do it for any amount of money. Moshie went to the next Shul (Temple) until he went to every shul in town receiving the same response. Finally he arrived at a small Shul outside of town. The elderly Rabbi answered the door and invited the man in. Moshie offered the Rabbi 10 million dollars to make him a Kohen . The veteran Rabbi asked him, why do you want to be a Kohen? Moshie responded, my father was a Kohen. My grandfather was a Kohen.
A good leader will listen to not only what a person is saying, but also the emotions they are conveying. Hillel heard in the converts request a desire to come close to Torah. Sometimes if we just ask each other what we are feeling, what is motivating us and we listen to the emotions we can learn a great deal about someone.
One Shabbos in the House of loving Prayer, Rav Shlomo Carlbach’s Shul, a man brought a drum to the davening (services). Most of the people in the Shul did not believe it was appropriate to use a drum on Shabbos. When the man returned the next week banging his drum several congregants approached Rav Shlomo and told him he should tell this man to leave. Rav Shlomo responded “I am not gonna tell him to leave...” Several weeks passed and this man banged vigorously on his drum every Shabbos service. Then one week he came to Shul without his drum.
Now Rav Shlomo was curious. He had not said a word to him about the drum but now he had to know why did he not bring it this week. So Rav Shlomo approached the man and asked him. The man said to Rav Shlomo, “The only reason I brought the drum to shul was so that you would say something to me, and kick me out . I went to every shul and got kicked out , now I heard of this “loving” Rabbi and I wanted to see it for myself, but you did not say a word, so now I will give your Shul a real chance because I see you really are accepting.” That man was a congregant for another 15 years coming to Shul every week, without his drum.
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The Gemara in Mesechet Shabbos Daf 31A , tells a story.
Once someone overheard a class learning this week’s parsha, regarding the clothing for the high priest and wanted to convert and become the Kohen Gadol. The man traveled to the two great scholars of the day. First he visited Shamai and asked to be converted on the condition he would be made Kohen Gadol. Shamai chased him away with a builders rod. Then the man visited Hillel with the same request and Hillel welcomed him in.
Amazingly, Hillel agreed to convert the man. Hillel, however, gave the man some advice. 'If you wanted to be king, you would need to learn the ways and customs of the royal court. Since you aspire to be the high priest, go study the appropriate laws.'
So the new convert began studying Torah. One day, he came across the verse, "Any non-priest who participates [in the holy service] shall die" (Num. 3:10). 'To whom does this refer?' he asked. Even King David, he was told. Even David, king of Israel, was not allowed to serve in the holy Temple, as he was not a descendant of Aaron the Kohen.
The convert was amazed. Even those born Jewish, and who are referred to as God's children, are not allowed to serve in the Temple! Certainly, a convert may not perform this holy service. Recognizing his mistake, he returned to Hillel, saying, 'May blessings fall on your head, humble Hillel, for drawing me under the wings of the Divine Presence.'
‘Don’t judge a book by its cover, it is the least we can do for one another.’
A man named Moshie once went to a Rabbi and said, “Rabbi can you make me a Kohen? I will give you 1 million dollars”. The Rabbi responded I can't do it for any amount of money. Moshie went to the next Shul (Temple) until he went to every shul in town receiving the same response. Finally he arrived at a small Shul outside of town. The elderly Rabbi answered the door and invited the man in. Moshie offered the Rabbi 10 million dollars to make him a Kohen . The veteran Rabbi asked him, why do you want to be a Kohen? Moshie responded, my father was a Kohen. My grandfather was a Kohen.
A good leader will listen to not only what a person is saying, but also the emotions they are conveying. Hillel heard in the converts request a desire to come close to Torah. Sometimes if we just ask each other what we are feeling, what is motivating us and we listen to the emotions we can learn a great deal about someone.
One Shabbos in the House of loving Prayer, Rav Shlomo Carlbach’s Shul, a man brought a drum to the davening (services). Most of the people in the Shul did not believe it was appropriate to use a drum on Shabbos. When the man returned the next week banging his drum several congregants approached Rav Shlomo and told him he should tell this man to leave. Rav Shlomo responded “I am not gonna tell him to leave...” Several weeks passed and this man banged vigorously on his drum every Shabbos service. Then one week he came to Shul without his drum.
Now Rav Shlomo was curious. He had not said a word to him about the drum but now he had to know why did he not bring it this week. So Rav Shlomo approached the man and asked him. The man said to Rav Shlomo, “The only reason I brought the drum to shul was so that you would say something to me, and kick me out . I went to every shul and got kicked out , now I heard of this “loving” Rabbi and I wanted to see it for myself, but you did not say a word, so now I will give your Shul a real chance because I see you really are accepting.” That man was a congregant for another 15 years coming to Shul every week, without his drum.
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