The King's Special Counsel
A king has no shortage of men to help him run his kingdom. Generals for the army, admirals for the navy, judges for the courts. Ministers to handle taxes, roads, bridges. Bureaucrats for things no one quite understands but are, apparently, very necessary.
But among them, there is one man unlike the rest—the king’s special counsel. He holds no army, collects no taxes, builds no roads. He has only his wits and his words, and, due to his wisdom and insight, the king listens to him.
There are two key differences between the counsel and the other ministers.
First, clothing. A minister wears the uniform of his office: the general stands in full regalia, medals polished to a blinding shine; the admiral is a walking display of gold braid and epaulettes; the chief justice, draped in solemn black, looks as though he was born frowning. The king's counsel, by contrast, wears a plain suit. No medals, no insignia, no grand display. He could be mistaken for a clerk. He often is.
Second, access. Ministers come when summoned—when there’s a war to fight, laws to pass, taxes to squeeze. But the counsel? He comes and goes as he pleases. He is never called for, because he is always there. If he sees the king about to do something spectacularly foolish, he doesn’t wait for an invitation. He clears his throat and says, “Majesty, perhaps a word.”
Moses' Simple White Cloak
God commanded Moses to prepare garments of splendor for his brother Aaron, the High Priest. “You shall make holy garments for your brother Aaron, for honor and glory” (Exodus 28:2). Every detail was a reflection of the sanctity of his role.
And Moses? When he himself served as priest during the seven days of Aaron’s dedication, what did he wear? The Sages tell us (Ta’anit 11b): a simple white cloak. No embroidery. No gold. Not even a hem.
A High Priest without his priestly robes cannot perform his service. So why, when Moses stood before God, did he dress as if he were no different from anyone else?
Because Moses was not the High Priest. He was something else entirely.
Aaron’s role was defined. He offered sacrifices, kindled incense, blessed the people. Once a year, on Yom Kippur, he entered the Holy of Holies, stepping into the most sacred space on earth. His garments were not mere decoration; they were his function made visible, a mark of the sanctity he carried.
Moses, though, was not confined to any one role. He did not serve in the Sanctuary in the way Aaron did. He served God wherever he was needed. His mission was not tied to a place, a position, or a set of garments. It was something larger, something that could not be embroidered in gold or woven into fabric.
And just like a king’s closest advisor, Moses had access like no other. He entered the Tent of Meeting at any time. He spoke with God “face to face, as one speaks to a friend” (Exodus 33:11). Aaron was warned: “Not at all times shall he enter the Holy” (Leviticus 16:2). Even on the holiest day of the year, he approached in fear and trembling, under strict conditions.
Moses needed no priestly robes, no symbols of office. His authority lay elsewhere. A simple white cloak was enough.
(Adapted from Ohel Yaakov, Tetzaveh)
