Society has many ways of demonstrating that someone has reached a new stage in life; University graduates wear mortar boards, officers get stripes on their uniform and secret societies teach the neophyte their ancient rituals and identifying handshakes and make them go through a wide range of rituals.

In most cases the uniforms or rituals have just evolved over time or been selected more for the pageantry value than their true intrinsic significance. Most national costumes are more about ceremony than functionality and most sporting chants and waves are meaningless gibberish, full of sound and fury but not sense.

Our national dress of tefillin and tzitzis are redolent with meaning and spirituality.

But Judaism is not so. Our national dress of tefillin and tzitzis are redolent with meaning and spirituality. Our initiation rituals; whether circumcision after birth, mikvah before marriage, and confession before dying, are finely calibrated celebrations of faith. Our prayers are not just slogans, our tunes and chants are credos of our belief, and our festivals and holidays are a reflection of our history. Every ritual and ceremony is packed full of purpose.

Sometimes we just have to delve a bit deeper to divine the intent behind a particular ritual or ceremony. Take this week’s Torah reading for instance. The parshah describes construction of the Tabernacle and its holy vessels, as well as the beautiful uniform which the priests would wear while serving G‑d in the Temple. We also learn about their appointment as G‑d’s priestly class, the Kohanim.

We can easily appreciate the symbolism of each stage and there is much discussion about what every ritual represents. However there was one part of the process that I’d never understood. The Torah relates that they took the blood from one of the sacrifices and rubbed it on the ear, thumb and foot of every Cohen. It is hard to see the relevance of this gesture; at first glance it looks like just a meaningless hazing ritual, no more spiritually inclined than any frat party pledge.

However Rabbi Yaakov Yitzchak of Peshischa (known as the Yid Hakadosh) explains the relevance of this gesture too. These men were being inaugurated into a lifetime of public Sometimes we just have to delve a bit deeper to divine the intent behind a particular ritual or ceremony. service; dedicating themselves to the common cause and swearing to uphold and protect the ways of G‑d and Judaism. Too often people embark on their public careers full of dedication and resolve, determined to help people and live their lives for others. However, all too soon, they lose sight of these lofty goals, shut themselves off from the needs of the people and think only about themselves. Many a crusader for justice has degenerated into a nest-featherer when elevated to power, and many a freedom fighter has morphed into a tyrant.

By smearing sacrificial blood on these three locations, Moshe was reminding them of their responsibilities and calling. Keep your ear tuned to the needs of your nation, keep your hand outstretched to give and not to take and make sure that your foot is always ready to run to the aid of others.

If you pledge yourself to these ideals at the outsets of your career, and are publicly initiated into these expressions or faith and intent, then you’ll truly become a leader in the G‑d’s army and bring credit to the uniform in which you serve.