129. RABBI YEHUDA said to RABBI ABA, Tell me Rabbi, it is written, "And they shall take gold, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen" (Shemot 28:5), yet silver is not mentioned. But AT THE OFFERING FOR THE TABERNACLE it says "gold and silver" (Shemot 25:3). He said, brass too is not mentioned, though both silver and brass were counted AS AN OFFERING FOR THE TABERNACLE. Here, IN RELATION TO THE VESTMENTS OF THE HIGH PRIEST they are not mentioned. But if the Holy Luminary, NAMELY RABBI SHIMON, did not reveal this mystery when it was discussed, I MYSELF should not reveal it either.
130. RABBI ABA opened with, "The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,' says Hashem" (Chagai 2:8) as it says in the verse, "The heavens are the heavens of Hashem" (Tehilim 115:16).
131. I have looked at the vessels of the sanctuary in several places; NAMELY THE RAIMENTS OF THE HIGH PRIEST, as it is written, "These are holy garments" (Vayikra 16:4) "and they shall make holy garments" (Shemot 28:4). HE ASKS, What holiness is there TO THE GARMENTS OF THE HIGH PRIEST? HE SAYS, We have learned that in all of these places THAT ARE MENTIONED there is holiness. NAMELY, "these are holy garments," "and they shall make holy garments," WHICH MEAN they resemble the ones above -- MEANING, ABA AND IMA, WHICH ARE CALLED HOLY, FOR THE HIGH PRIEST CORRESPONDS TO SUPERNAL ABA, AND HIS GARMENTS ARE THEREFORE CALLED HOLY GARMENTS, AS WAS SAID.
132. For we have learned that there is a High Priest above, ABA, and a High Priest below, WHO CORRESPONDS TO HIM. Therefore, the holy raiments OF ABA above CORRESPOND TO the holy raiment OF THE HIGH PRIEST below. HENCE, AS ABA IS THE SECRET OF HOLINESS SO IS THE HIGH PRIEST HOLY; AS THE RAIMENTS OF HONOR OF ABA ARE HOLY GARMENTS SO ARE THE GARMENTS OF THE HIGH PRIEST. Thus, the verse does not mention silver or brass because they are assigned to another place, NOT CORRESPONDING TO THE SUPERNAL ABA AND IMA, as it is written, "All the pillars round about the court shall be bound with silver...and their sockets of brass" (Shemot 27:17). They are the instruments of service of the tabernacle, THE SECRET OF THE NUKVA OF ZEIR ANPIN.
133. But no one is allowed to use the garment of honor OF THE HIGH PRIEST only the High Priest, who is anointed with the oil of holy ointment upon his head, as it is written, "And you shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother for honor and for beauty" (Shemot 28:2). For in these garments, he resembles ABA above.