Blue & white – P’kudei
The high priest had a robe that was k’lil t’chelet – “all of blue”. There is a link between the blue robe and the thread of blue that was part of the fringes that every Israelite wore (Num. 15:38).
Blue is the colour of sky and sea; the blue thread was a reminder of the presence of God, whose domain is everywhere. If this applies to every Israelite, all the more does it apply to the high priest on whose consciousness of God the whole people depended.
The blue in the tzitzit is no longer customary as the original source of the dye is no longer available (though some believe otherwise). But presumably the memory of the blue among the white threads led many to put broad stripes on the tallit, and it also explains why blue and white are Israel’s national colours.
Even without a blue thread, the fringes are still an integral part of the Jewish uniform. Tzitzit under the shirt during the day, and the tallit during morning prayer, are a reminder of Jewish identity, loyalty and commitment. In today’s world there is a return to tzitzit, as there is a return to many other commandments and to serious Jewish learning too. This is why many of us are encouraged about the Jewish future, despite the losses caused by opting out or drifting away.
