Based on the Ma'amar להבין ענין חושן ואיפוד תשכ"ו.
The Ephod was woven with special threads, each one spun with a blend of different colors and materials. As well, unlike a regular apron, it was worn on the back of the Kohen Gadol, rather than on the front.
This uniquely varied blend of colors and materials, represents the wide-ranging and often conflicting character traits inborn within our psyches; the unique-to-each-individual's own blend of Midos, both good and bad.
The Avodah of a Jew is to sort through these "colors", cultivate the good Midos, and transform the bad ones.
Understandably, a person can feel overwhelmed by this daunting task, for many traits are deeply ingrained, habituated and reinforced over many years... Some of the "colors" may even seem as if they are an inseparable part of our existence! Yet, despite these thoughts and feelings, a Jew toils to identify those traits and habits that are antithetical to a Torah life, and works faithfully to overcome and transform them.
The Ephod being worn on the back of the Kohen Gadol symbolizes the difficult, "being in the back" feeling one faces during this process.
On the Choshen, each Shevet's stone was unique, yet distinctly colored in its beautiful hue, representing the culmination of the process of weeding out the colors that do not reflect a Jew's true identity. Each Shevet had its own place, having arrived "from the back", with its ultimate perfection in his service to Hashem.
The Ephod was woven with special threads, each one spun with a blend of different colors and materials. As well, unlike a regular apron, it was worn on the back of the Kohen Gadol, rather than on the front.
This uniquely varied blend of colors and materials, represents the wide-ranging and often conflicting character traits inborn within our psyches; the unique-to-each-individual's own blend of Midos, both good and bad.
The Avodah of a Jew is to sort through these "colors", cultivate the good Midos, and transform the bad ones.
Understandably, a person can feel overwhelmed by this daunting task, for many traits are deeply ingrained, habituated and reinforced over many years... Some of the "colors" may even seem as if they are an inseparable part of our existence! Yet, despite these thoughts and feelings, a Jew toils to identify those traits and habits that are antithetical to a Torah life, and works faithfully to overcome and transform them.
The Ephod being worn on the back of the Kohen Gadol symbolizes the difficult, "being in the back" feeling one faces during this process.
***
On the Choshen, each Shevet's stone was unique, yet distinctly colored in its beautiful hue, representing the culmination of the process of weeding out the colors that do not reflect a Jew's true identity. Each Shevet had its own place, having arrived "from the back", with its ultimate perfection in his service to Hashem.
Conversely, inlaid on the shoulder straps, were the Avnei Shoham, with the names of the Shevatim engraved, six on each stone, representing the the process which we all have in common.
***
Finally, in the very Parsha in which we do not find Moshe's name mentioned, we find the Koach to forge ahead in this Avodah, no matter how daunting a task it may be.
Hence, during the very process of working through on one's "colors", at a time when a Jew may feel abandoned and on his own, he is reminded that he stands on the shoulders of the Kohen Gadol. Furthermore, in (the Avnei) Shoham שהם, he finds the letters Moshe משה, from and through whom he draws the inspiration and power to overcome his challenges.
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