When the Kohein Gadol would go into the Kodesh HaKodashim on Yom Kippur, the passuk says that “no one should be in the ohel moed at that time.” The Medrash says that this means that even malachim were not allowed to be there. The Medrash then says that while he was there, the Kohein Gadol’s face would light up like a fire!
When the Kohein would send the sa’ir la’azazel on Yom Kippur, he would say Hashem’s name three times, and three amazing things happened: 1) All the aveiros and klippos from the Yidden would be transferred onto the calf, 2) The calf did not pass out or die from the weight of all those aveiros, 3) Even though the calf became very heavy from all the aveiros, the one who would carry the calf got superhuman strength to carry it. (Sifsei Kohein)
The Baal Shem Tov teaches that when you notice something bad about someone else, that is a sign that you have the same fault in some way. So next time you want to say some juicy lashon hara, remember that you are really talking about yourself too!
Why are we not allowed to wear shatnez?
There are lots of interesting reasons. Here are two of them:
Since there was a certain symbolic garment that the priests would wear while doing kishuf (magic), and this was made of shatnez, the Torah wanted to distance us from this. (Rambam)
The paroches (curtain in the Beis HaMikdash) was made of shatnez, and so we are not allowed to make things like it, just like we are not allowed to build a Beis HaMikdash, or make ketores. (Tosafos)
This article was found in Nekuda Tova Issue 78.