Tuesday, April 18, 2023

Frum Clothing Is Not Enough

וְהַצָּר֜וּעַ אֲשֶׁר־בּ֣וֹ הַנֶּ֗גַע בְּגָדָ֞יו יִהְי֤וּ פְרֻמִים֙ וְרֹאשׁוֹ֙ יִהְיֶ֣ה פָר֔וּעַ וְעַל־שָׂפָ֖ם יַעְטֶ֑ה וְטָמֵ֥א ׀ טָמֵ֖א יִקְרָֽא.

A person can wear very very "frum" clothing, בגדיו יהיו פְרֻמִים֙, he can have long thick peyos, ראשו יהיה פרוע, he can even cover his face like some of the Sfardi Tzadikim as if he doesn't look at women, ועל שפם יעטה. And yet וטמא טמא יקרא - he is not just Tamei but Tamei-Tamei. A צרוע with a נגע [or numerous נגעים] that make him Tamei-Tamei. 

The true person is hidden in the heart. 

וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה אֶל שְׁמוּאֵל אַל תַּבֵּט אֶל מַרְאֵהוּ וְאֶל גְּבֹהַּ קוֹמָתוֹ כִּי מְאַסְתִּיהוּ כִּי לֹא אֲשֶׁר יִרְאֶה הָאָדָם כִּי הָאָדָם יִרְאֶה לַעֵינַיִם וַיהוָה יִרְאֶה לַלֵּבָב.

We don't know. His computer history knows a lot and his heart and mind reveal much of the rest. The Avoda is to purify the pnimiyus. Of course we dress in a certain way b/c that can be a positive contributing factor to growth as well but that is not where it is truly at.