spirit

torah portion

Clean Clothes
And Our Souls

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18

February 1 • 2018

jn

Parshat Yitro:

n this week’s portion, Moses
reunites with his family,
establishes the basis for our
contemporary court system with
guidance from his father-in-law
and the Israelites receive the Ten
Commandments at Mt. Sinai.
Leading up to receiving the
Commandments, as part
changing and inherently
of their preparations, the
spiritual moment.
Israelites were instructed to
If our bodies are perceived
wash their clothes. Needless
as holy vessels, are the
to say, I’m curious as to how
clothes we wear inherently
much water was used/wast-
holy as a result? When we do
ed (in the desert!) in order to
laundry at the laundromat
make this possible for mil-
or at home, do we perceive
lions of people.
Rabbi Dan
that chore as an inherently
Many of us take for
Horwitz
spiritual one? What would it
granted the ability to have
be like to reframe it in that
freshly laundered clothing,
way?
while there are others who
One of the beautiful
struggle to have clothing at
aspects of our tradition is that it’s
all — regardless of its freshness.
meant to be one that is living and
How petty it often seems to
that interacts with every aspect of
be frustrated by coin-operated
daily life. And thus, the opportunity
machines as we long for the elusive
constantly exists to strive to reframe
in-unit washer and dryer. Sweaty
actions we might generally view as
and grimy clothes often sit for a
“mundane” into ones we might con-
week or two at a time before being
sider “elevated.”
washed — the horror!
This Shabbat, let us reflect on
What is it about having clean
clothes that speaks to us? Do clothes how we prepare for moments we
anticipate as being special or life-
make the person? Should they?
changing. Let us find a meaningful
When do we “put on our best?”
way to express gratitude for the
At first glance, it might seem odd
ability to wear clean clothing and to
that the Israelites were provided
bring intention to noticing how the
an instruction pertaining to their
clothing we wear makes us feel. Let
garb. But when we reflect on this a
us make the time this week to go
bit, we quickly remember that there
through our wardrobes to set aside
are a significant number of instruc-
clothing to donate to those in need.
tions as they relate to clothing in
Together, we can make sure to
our tradition — whether it be put-
clothe the naked, as our tradition
ting fringes on the corners of four-
teaches us is one of our sacred tasks,
cornered garments, ensuring that
we dress modestly or refraining from while bringing intention to how
we clothe ourselves, helping us to
wearing garments made of both
elevate our souls, connecting to the
wool and linen. But in this moment,
energy of the world. •
in preparation for receiving the Ten
Commandments, the instruction
Rabbi Dan Horwitz is founding director of The
to the Israelites was to wash their
Well.
clothes as they prepared for a life-

Exodus 18:1-23;

Isaiah 6:1-7:6, 9:5-6.

