Recap In the previous article, we explained that the body’s greatness is in its role as the vessel that holds the neshama and the vehicle through which the neshama serves Hashem. The klippos, however, try to redirect our focus onto the body itself, making it appear as its own independent entity, instead of simply a vessel for the neshama. A Yid therefore conceals the body by dressing appropriately to remind himself that its entire purpose is to serve the neshama. Now we will see how this pnimiyus of clothing fits into various halachos pertaining to getting dressed.
שולחן ערוך אורח חיים סימן ב
לא ילבש חלוקו מיושב, אלא יקח חלוקו ויכניס בו ראשו וזרועותיו בעודנו שוכב, ונמצא כשיקום שהוא מכוסה. אל יאמר: הנני בחדרי חדרים, מי רואני? כי הקב”ה מלא כל הארץ כבודו
Outer Action The Shulchan Aruch instructs us to conduct ourselves with tzniyus even in the privacy of our own bedroom. When one is getting dressed in the morning, he should not put on his garment while sitting exposed. Rather, he should take his garment and put his head and arms into it while still lying down, so that when he gets up he is already covered. He continues: A person should not say, “I am alone in my room — who can see me?” For the Holy One, blessed is He, fills the entire world with His glory.
Inner Intention
The very first thing we do each morning is remind ourselves that our bodies are not our identity. Right from the moment we leave our blankets, we cover our bodies because we want to impress upon ourselves that the body is a vessel for the neshama, not an independent entity.
But why does the Shulchan Aruch say that we should be dressed in the privacy of our own room, because Hashem’s glory is everywhere? Hashem is certainly everywhere, but why should that mean a person should not be undressed in his room? It’s one thing if we are davening and are standing before Hashem as the King of all kings, of course it’s inappropriate not to be dressed. But we are also described as children standing before our father. If we are not davening, and we are simply waking up and getting dressed, why can’t Hashem “see us undressed”?
The deeper understanding is that Hashem’s Presence fills every part of creation, including our own bodies. Our bodies are not separate from Hashem. They are holy vessels filled with His Presence. This is exactly why we cover them. We are not covering the body because it is something lowly. We are covering it so that the klippos do not present it as something separate and independent. By getting dressed, we reveal that even our bodies are filled with Hashem’s Presence and exist only to help our neshama serve Him.
In other words, we are not dressing because Hashem is watching us. We are getting dressed because Hashem is right here; His glory fills the entire world and even our bodies. So we cover them in a way that reveals their true purpose instead of allowing them to appear as an independent physical entity. The Shulchan Aruch is reminding us how important it is to be dressed, because being dressed is how we reveal that the presence of Hashem is within us. This is why we want to do it from the very moment we wake up, even before we get out of bed.
Moment of Mindfulness
As you get dressed immediately upon waking up, remind yourself that Hashem’s Presence is within you as well, and that wherever you go today you have the opportunity for your body to serve as the vehicle through which your neshama serves Hashem.
This article was found in Nekuda Tova Issue 93.