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Shelah Lekha: Obsessing about clothes

Rabbi Ya'aqob Menashe
Friday, June 19, 2009/Siwan 27, 5769
And they  shall make fringes (Sissith [Tzitzith]) on the corners of their garments ('Al Kanfei Bighdeihem), for all generations.

A person must learn Mussar (an important lesson) from this. People tend to be overly concerned, even obsessed with their clothes. We wear all kinds of garments, one on top of the other. Sometimes they are made from expensive fabrics such as silk and embroidery. Very often people will pay exorbitant sums for designer names. And despite the sums we pay, these clothes cannot be worn two days in a row, but we have to change them every day.

At the end of the day, after a long life, when a person is laid in the grave, he wears only one single inexpensive garment. And that garment remains on him for generations and he does not change it.rom this a person must learn not to chase after that which is unimportant and to control his Yeser (inclination). What must be of primary concern is to look after the well-being of the soul, and not make the needs of the body Iqqar (of primary importance) and the needs of the Nefesh (soul) Tafel (secondary).

The word "Sissith" comes from the word "Lehasis" (to look). The Kanfei Beghadim (corners) are  the ends of the garment. This comes to tell us that we must look at what the value and importance of all these clothes really is -- in the end.

(See Addereth Eliyahu, Parashat Shelah Lekha)

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