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It is interesting to note that, while this pasuk mentions six garments, instructions were actually given for the fabrication of eight garments. The tzitz, headplate, and michnasayim, breeches, are not mentioned here. Why are these garments left out of this pasuk? Horav Dovid Feinstein, Shlita, suggests that on the one hand these two garments represent the elementary foundation of human decency. On the other, the garments represent the spiritual apex of the Kohen Gadol’s spiritual ascendency. These two garments were an obvious requirement. The Kohen Gadol needed to wear breeches for the sake of modesty.  The fact that breeches were…

In the Talmud Shabbos 22b, Chazal state that the Ner Ma’aravi, western lamp, which miraculously continued to burn, attested universally to Hashem’s presence among Bnei Yisrael. This is enigmatic. The menorah was situated in the Mishkan and later in the Bais Ha’Mikdash. These were places in which no Yisrael — and surely no gentile — was permitted to enter. If so, how did the western lamp serve as testimony to confirm Hashem’s presence among Klal Yisrael to the world? Horav Yitzchak Hutner z.l., asserts that the Ner Ma’aravi inspired Bnei Yisrael to be cognizant that the Shechinah reposed among them. …