RAV KOOK ON Shelach Part 1: Garments of the Soul

“Speak to the Israelites and tell them to to make tassels (tzitzit) on the corners of their garments for all generations. They shall include a thread of sky-blue [wool] in the corner tassels.” (Num. 15:38) Three Levels of the Soul How is the human soul recognizable to the outside world? We may speak of a hierarchy of three levels: The soul itself. Its character traits — compassion, generosity, tolerance, humility, and so on. Its actions and conduct. The innermost level, the soul itself, is in fact hidden from the outside world. The soul can only be observed through the outer two evels, its traits and actions. Character traits are like the soul’s ‘clothing.’ Through its distinctive characteristics, the soul reveals itself to the outside world. This is similar to the way we present ourselves to others through our garments. We are judged by the style and quality of our clothes. Yet, we are not our clothes; we may change them at will. So too, we are judged by our character traits, but they are external to the soul itself, and may be changed.