Tetzaveh

The torah tells us ועשית ציץ זהב טהור ופתחת עליו פיתוחי חותם קודש לה, you shall make a headplate of pure gold, and you shall engrave upon it, engraved like a signet ring, Holy to Hashem.

We know that all the בגדי כהונה were mechaper for certain sins. The gemara says that the ציץ was mechaper for the sin of brazenness.

The Jewish people are known as the most brazen of the nations; a trait that is naturally ingrained in us, for in order for us to persevere despite those who try to ridicule us, we need to be brazen. Although that seems like it would be a good trait, the Mishnah says עז פנים לגיהנם that the brazen go to גיהנם, implying that it's a bad trait. What is it, good or bad?

We see an interesting anomaly about purim, says Rabbi Shlomo Diamond. Normally we're told not to drink & do things that impair our judgment, so much so that were a kohen to do the avodah or a rabbi to paskin a halacha while drunk, the death penalty applies. Yet on purim we're told to get drunk to a state where we don't know the difference between right & wrong. How does the bad suddenly become good?

There's a parable told by ר' גדליהו סילברסטון that could shed light on these inconsistencies. There was a wealthy man who summoned his chariots and went on a three day journey, finally stopping at one store. After a short while he comes out with a small cage with a little bird inside. He tells the driver to head back home. Three days to get there, three days to get back, all for a little bird? The driver can't understand it. He asks the wealthy man about it & he answers, this small bird's name is the זמיר, as if that would answer everything. The driver, not understanding, continues to ask how much did it cost? The wealthy man responds five hundred coins, a small fortune.

When the driver got home he told his wife about this bird that must taste like heaven itself if his master traveled six days & spent a small fortune to acquire it. Then he told her " you know we deserve it too. We work hard & deserve to at least once experience the taste of the rich". She agreed. They had three hundred coins saved up, they borrowed two hundred, and took the three day trip to buy the bird, & traveled three days back. They were elated with their purchase.

The next day his wife prepared a lavish meal, cooked half of the bird & saved the other half for the next day. Let them feel rich for two days, she reasoned. They sat down to eat, waiting for their senses to be ignited, but alas they tasted nothing. There was no overwhelming goodness , no intoxicating pleasure. Figuring that they might have cooked it with too many other foods in the pot, the next day they cooked it alone. Again they sat down expecting to be swept away with pleasure, & once again the taste was bland. Not knowing what was going on, he ran to the house of the wealthy man, told him all that happened & asked, what did I do wrong?

The rich man laughed & said you fool that bird is not for eating, that bird is called the זמיר because it has the most magnificent voice & sings like no other. That's why it cost so much. If you wanted a bird to eat there are much tastier, cheaper birds for eating.

The chasam sofer says that the reason the ציץ says 'קודש לה on it is to teach us that even though we are supposed to be brazen, it's only when we're doing it for Hashem. We have to know what do with the middos & use them for the right purpose. Otherwise we're just like the wagon driver who used a rare bird for the wrong purpose & got nothing out of it. Same thing with drinking on purim. Even though normally we shouldn't, on purim when we're focused on the love of every Jew, the drinking is a good thing to help us overcome our natural reserve and express our love for one another, being the way it should be כאיש אחד בלב אחד !