Fw: A Moment with Rabbi Avigdor Miller Z"L # 35(Dressing in Black, Why?)

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From: "Avrohom Tikotzky" <tikotzky@gmail.com>

Date: Thu, 13 May 2010 10:18:36 -0400

To: Rabbi Goldberger<rabbig@sakar.com>

Subject: A Moment with Rabbi Avigdor Miller Z"L # 35(Dressing in Black, Why?)

Tape 519 @ 1:23:32             Parshas Bamidbar 5770

This email is transcribed from questions that were posed to Harav Miller by the audience at the Thursday night lectures. To listen to the audio of this Q & A please dial: 732-534-8868

QUESTION:   Must all religious people dress like they are in mourning? Why should they all dress in black?

ANSWER: And the answer is, black is not a sign of mourning, black is a sign of nobility. They dress like an important person. Don't you know, many senators wear black homburg hats. They used to anyhow. Senators used to wear black homburg hats. It's a sign of importance. And so when Jews wear a black hat, it's a sign that they are "Mamleches Kohanim", it's a nation of important dignified people. And that reminds them that their behavior should be dignified. Now it doesn't mean that if you wear a white straw hat, that you are permitted to be undignified. Nevertheless, when people choose dignity in their garments, it has a very big effect, an unfailing effect on their character. Here is a tough Puerto Rican bum, and he is admitted to the police force. Because now they lowered all the requirements, you don't have to be 6 ft anymore, you can be a runt, you don't have to pass the police academy test. He failed all the tests, but, affirmative action, and he puts on a uniform. And now he stands on the street and is determined to enforce the law. And as he is twirling his baton, his club, he is looking for trouble makers. The truth is, some of these are better law enforcers than the white fellows. What makes the change? The uniform, clothes makes the man. Sartor Sartoris. There is a book on that subject. The clothes makes the man.      And so, when you dress in a dignified way, you become dignified. And that's why it's always important for men and women to remember, dignity in clothing. I was walking on Kings Highway, and from a distance I saw a woman approaching. Now everybody on Kings Highway is naked, it's a naked street. I thought it was a Rebbetzin coming. So I saw she was wearing a Sheitel , a well styled Sheitel, and a nice long dress, nice sleeves. But when she came close, everything was all right except one thing, she was black. I was thinking, this black woman, is Mechayev (obligates) all the Jewish women. Because now Hakadosh Baruch Hu says, if she dresses decently, you the children of the Chosen People, what's going to happen to you. She is Mechayev them.      We have to learn how important it is to be dignified in dress. That's what Hakadosh Baruch Hu wants at all times. And that's going to change a man's inner behavior, his mind is attuned to his externality. Good Shabbos To All

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