The Splendor of Clothes
Halakhic Positions of Rav Joseph B. Soloveitchik
by R. Aharon Ziegler
It is a well known fact that clothes make a difference in the way people view and respect an individual. Clothes can even pervert a true judicial verdict. The Gemara She’vu’ot [31a] relates that if two litigants appear before a Beit Din, one of them dressed in expensive up-dated clothes while the other appears dresses shabbily in cheap clothes like a pauper, the Beit Din cannot render a true verdict. The Gabbai or Secretary of Beit Din must use his special funds to clothe the pauper in similar clothes to that of his opponent. Otherwise, the Beit Din might be influenced to look down upon the pauper and favor the well dressed opponent. Or, they may have compassion on the poor man and render him a favorable judgment. Either way is considered a perversion of justice. Clothes- do make a difference.
Likewise, we find in Gemara Bava Kama [11b] a case of several brothers equally sharing the estate of their deceased father. The oldest brother claims that besides getting a double share as a Bechor, he is also entitled to an extra share for his expensive wardrobe. Since he represents his siblings in court and for official business he must have more expensive clothes. The Beit Din agreed stating that the expensive clothes will not only benefit the older brother but all brothers stand to favor in his legal endeavors on behalf of the family.
Rav Soloveitchik suggested, that this concept we find inscribed in the Torah. “You shall make vestments of sanctity for Aharon your brother, ‘Le’chavod u’leif’eret’ for glory and splendor” [Shemot 28:2]. The vestments were for the glory of G-d and to lend splendor to the Kohen Gadol as the teacher of the nation, so that he would be revered by the Shevatim whose names he bore on his breast and shoulder. Furthermore, glory accrues to a person because of his G-d given abilities, while splendor refers to the regard he has earned through is own accomplishments.
Interesting, that the Torah speaks about a Kohen Gadol, wearing these garments of glory and splendor. Whom was he trying to influence? HaShem looks into the heart and not the clothes! So the Rav added, we see that clothes have a dual impact. A-To influence others
B-To influence the effect on the wearer. Knowing that he is better equipped because of the clothing gives him a psychological edge in self-confidence and esteem to be a better representative.
A recent study of telephone sales representatives concluded that those who tried to sell their product while dressed in formal office attire of jacket and tie were far more successful than those selling products dressed casually in jeans-yet no one saw the salesperson. The study proved to management that people with formal dress attire speak with more dignity, more authority and more self-confidence.
Rav Soloveitchik further added that wearing a Yarmulke, a Kippa, is more dignified than a baseball cap. He said, “If the President of the United States suddenly appeared and wanted to take a picture with me, would I wear a Russian hat, a baseball cap,- or a Kippa? That is the way we should stand Shemoneh Esrei when addressing the King of the Universe, HaKadosh Baruch-Hu.