Prayer for Preserving our Divine Image by Dressing Modestly

 Parashat Tetzaveh

Prayer for Preserving our Divine Image by Dressing Modestly

Hashem thank you for filling my wardrobe with colorful attire.
I appreciate the varied outfits You allowed me to acquire.
Although I am not much of a buyer,
I possess all the dresses I desire. 
 
May the awareness of You help me prevail
not to be tempted to buy everything on sale!
Strengthen me to succeed and not to fail,
to reveal only my face but never my tail.
 
Not minding making the old look new,
I pray to dress in a way that honors You,
grazed by silky fabric of the perfect hue,
above all the color of Your sky so blue.
 
Through proper clothes, I yearn You to extol,
by expressing the garments of my soul.
Although it is not entirely in my control,
I wish to preserve my divine image whole.
 
May no wild strand of hair from my covering glide,
and let no treetop make my headscarf become untied!
Don’t let my clothing cause me from Your Face to slide!
By the intricate rules of modesty, I desire to abide.
 
Like Aharon whom You ordered to dress in glory,
the way we dress spins the threads of our life story!
Help me go through my wardrobe and make an inventory,
sharing what no longer serves me, without feeling sorry!
 
I pray that my modest dress won’t cause any divide.
Don’t think I am ashamed or have anything to hide.
You taught me to carry myself with dignity and pride,
for “All the honor of a king’s daughter remains inside.”

Based on the Book of Shemot Chapter 28

 

ספר שמות פרק כח פסוק ב וְעָשִׂיתָ בִגְדֵי קֹדֶשׁ לְאַהֲרֹן אָחִיךָ לְכָבוֹד וּלְתִפְאָרֶת:

ה) וְהֵם יִקְחוּ אֶת הַזָּהָב וְאֶת הַתְּכֵלֶת וְאֶת הָאַרְגָּמָן וְאֶת תּוֹלַעַת הַשָּׁנִי וְאֶת הַשֵּׁשׁ:

“You shall make for Aharon, your brother, holy garments for honor and for glory…They shall take the gold, the sky-blue, the purple, the scarlet, and the white linen.”  (Shemot 28:2, 28:5) 

ספר דברים פרק כג פסוק טו כִּי הָשֵׁם אֱלֹהֶיךָ מִתְהַלֵּךְ בְּקֶרֶב מַחֲנֶךָ לְהַצִּילְךָ וְלָתֵת אֹיְבֶיךָ לְפָנֶיךָ וְהָיָה מַחֲנֶיךָ קָדוֹשׁ וְלֹא יִרְאֶה בְךָ עֶרְוַת דָּבָר וְשָׁב מֵאַחֲרֶיךָ:

“For Hashem, your G-d, goes along in the midst of your camp, to rescue you and to deliver your enemies before you. [Therefore,] your camp shall be holy so that He should not see anything unseemly among you and would turn away from you” (Devarim 23:15). 

ספר תהילים פרק מה פסוק יד כָּל כְּבוּדָּה בַת מֶלֶךְ פְּנִימָה מִמִּשְׁבְּצוֹת זָהָב לְבוּשָׁהּ:

“All honor [awaits] the King’s daughter who is within; her raiment is superior to settings of gold” (Tehillim 45:14). 

ספר משלי פרק לא פסוק כב מַרְבַדִּים עָשְׂתָה לָּהּ שֵׁשׁ וְאַרְגָּמָן לְבוּשָׁהּ:

“Luxurious bedspreads she made herself, fine linen and purple wool are her clothing” (Mishlei 31:22).

 

ספר משלי פרק לא פסוק כה  עוֹז וְהָדָר לְבוּשָׁהּ וַתִּשְׂחַק לְיוֹם אַחֲרוֹן:

 “Strength and Majesty is her garments, and she laughs at the very last day” (Mishlei 31:25).