Q: On Yom Kippur, the Cohen Gadol is required to remove his regular, colorful and golden vestments and don an all white outfit before entering the Holy of Holies to perform the special Yom Kippur service. What is the deeper meaning behind this color change?

A: According to Rashi, it would be inappropriate to wear gold on the day of atonement from sin, the color of the Golden Calf which represents the Jewish people’s greatest sin. In addition, a simple white garment is a symbol of humbleness which is appropriate on a day when we ask Hashem for forgiveness for our sins.

Pure On Yom Kippur

Sun beams arise over desert dawn
Aaron, the High Priest, has already gone

To walk towards mishkan on Yom Kippur
On this holy day which he must ensure

Each Kippur Aaron changes clothes five times.
First change, eight garments to serve the divine.

Breeches and tunic, he would wear under.
Colorful breastplate, Aaron wore over

Turban above head, oblong is the shape.
Plate of gold around his forehead he drapes.

These are the same garments the high priest wore
Throughout the year adorned with decor.

Twelve colors in the breastplate, one for each tribe.
Twelve stones nestled in gold, breastplate was tied

To apron's shoulder straps via gold rings
Attached to the apron with gold settings.

A sash around waist like belt it surrounds
Blackberry purple the color redounds

The High Priest's main garment, a robe of blue.
Like the deep ocean, dark turquoise the hue.

The morning service has come to an end.
High priest swaps his cloths, because he intends

To heed G-d's instructions in parsha,
To humble himself, we read in Torah.

These garbs lack color, the clothing lacks gold,
These vestments are plain, to Moshe G-d told

These sacred garments are simply pure white
To atone for sins of all Israelites.

Why did he alter his garments colors?
To find the answer, Rashi who utters:

B'nai Yisrael sinned at Mount Sinai
A calf made of gold is the reason why

Gold is a color united to sin
It can not be used, must be forbidden

On day we atone for what we did wrong
Kohen Gadol stands in front of the throng

Of the Israelites before entering
Holy of Holies, then to G-d praying

Commanded Hashem, in Parshat Acharei
During Yom Kippur, all day shall we pray.

Ronen Khordipour makes Torah wisdom accessible to a wide Jewish audience through simple rhyming poetry. Khordipour is currently writing “Soul of the Scroll,” a book of poems for each Torah portion. Ronen is available for public readings, and can be reached at info@soulofthescroll.com.

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