Kohain Gadol wearing Bigdai Zahav

Every Kohain who served in the Bais Hamikdash wore four garments, termed the Bigdei Kohain Hedyot ( the garments of the ordinary Kohain ).
They were:

Kesones, the shirt
Michnasayim, the breeches
Avnait, the belt
Migba'as, the turban.

The Kohain Gadol wore these garments too, except for the Migba'as. While the Migba'as of the ordinary Kohain was pointed on top, the turban of the Kohain Gadol was round and called the Mitznefes. Additionally, the Kohain Gadol wore four golden garments, termed the Bigdai Zahav (golden garments). They were:

Me'il, the mantle
Aifod, the apron
Choshen, the breastplate
Tzitz, the headplate

The Me'il was made of sky blue wool. It was sleeveless, possessing two openings for the two arms. Its top hem was secured with a heavy double border. Attached to its bottom hem were seventy-two hollow ornaments in the shape of pomegranates alternating with seventy-two bells. These bells tinkled to announce the Kohain Gadol's entry in the Mishkan and his departure from it.

The Aifod was a kind of half apron. (Although it resembled an apron in shape, it should be noted, that its center piece was worn in back and not in front.) It was tied in front with a belt which was part of the original woven garment. Its back was supported by two shoulder straps overlapping the Kohain's shoulders to the front. The Aifod was woven of a twenty-eight fold thread that included different materials, among them a golden thread. At the end of the two shoulder straps were inserted two shoham-stones in golden settings. On each stone the names of six Tribes were engraved.

The Choshen was woven from twenty-eight fold thread. It was made rectangular in form and folded in the middle to form two perfect squares. The Kohain Gadol wore these squares over his heart, one layer above the other. Between the two layers, the Urim Ve'tumim were inserted. The Choshen was woven in a pattern which contained four rows of gold settings. Into each of these settings three precious gems were inserted.

The Tzitz was a golden plate on which were engraved, in raised script, the letters "Kodesh laHashem", (spelling out the Divine Four-Letter-Name). The Kohain Gadol wore it on his head by means of three sky blue ribbons, two which ran to the back of his head, tied through a hole on each side of the Tzitz, and a third on fastened to a hole in the middle of the Tzitz. The middle ribbon passed over the Mitznefes and was tied together with the two others in back of the Kohain Gadol's head.

All text and graphics are from the book "The Yom Kippur Avodah," by Rabbi Menachem Moshe Oppen, illustrations by Shepsil Scheinberg, © C.I.S. Publishers,1997 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. We welcome your questions and comments .