Wearing Your Soul: Rabbi Simon Jacobson’s Guide to the Spiritual Power of Clothing and Self-Expression
We spend a surprising amount of energy each day deciding what to wear. Though fashion, comfort, and occasion all play a role, kabbalistic wisdom reveals that clothing is far more than outer appearance—it’s a metaphor for how we express or conceal who we are within. Rabbi Simon Jacobson’s teachings shed new light on why our physical garments, as well as the ‘garments’ of thought, speech, and action, are not mere coverings, but dynamic vehicles for self-expression and spiritual growth.
The Two Layers of Clothing: Body and Soul
Imagine opening your closet each morning, choosing an outfit that will represent you to the world. As Rabbi Jacobson explains, just as our outer clothing is changeable and chosen for different circumstances, so too are our soul’s garments—the ways in which we think, speak, and act—selected moment by moment. Kabbalah calls these spiritual garments Levushim, the channels through which the soul expresses its deepest values and faculties.
There’s a profound teaching in Tanya, the foundational text of Chassidic psychology: Our intellect and emotions—our strengths, dreams, and even our vulnerabilities—remain hidden until they are ‘dressed’ in the garments of thought, speech, and action. Just as an elegant coat or a favorite scarf can highlight or obscure who we are, so can our words and behaviors reveal or conceal our truest self.
Why Attire Matters: Revealing and Concealing
Rabbi Jacobson draws a striking distinction between clothing that reveals and clothing that conceals. In his classes on Ayin Beis, he explains that, before the fundamental rupture of innocence in human history, Adam and Eve did not need clothing because their inner and outer selves were in complete harmony—they had nothing to hide. But once people became aware of outside judgment and vulnerability, garments—both physical and spiritual—became necessary for privacy, protection, and self-expression.
This insight gives fresh meaning to moments like getting dressed for an important occasion or choosing words in a sensitive conversation. Are we hiding, protecting, or expressing? Rabbi Jacobson emphasizes that, just as you can change your jacket or shirt depending on your mood or company, you can also transform the ‘garments’ of your soul—by intentionally shifting your thoughts, refining your speech, and choosing actions that reflect your higher purpose.
Dressing With Intention: Practical Steps for Daily Life
- Morning Reflection: Before reaching into your closet, take a quiet moment to consider what energy you want to bring into your day—not only through your outfit, but through your thoughts and speech as well. Ask yourself: How can my choices today reveal the best within me?
- Mindful Self-Expression: Next time you pick an outfit, notice how it makes you feel. Does it empower you, help you connect with others, set a tone of dignity, humility, or joy? Similarly, practice pausing to choose uplifting words or compassionate actions that serve as ‘garments’ for the soul.
- Transform Difficult Moments: When you feel disconnected or misunderstood, try ‘changing’ your inner garments—shift your thoughts from judgment to curiosity, your words from criticism to kindness, or your posture from defensive to open. Even a small, intentional change can transform the spiritual and relational environment.
- Dress for Purpose: Just as we dress up for meaningful events, dedicate particular acts of kindness or moments of truth in speech as special ‘spiritual attire’ for occasions that matter most.
- Regular Check-ins: Throughout the day, ask: Are my thoughts, words, and actions consistent with who I want to be? Am I expressing my soul’s values through the garments I wear—both visible and invisible?
Seeing Clothing as a Gift
In Rabbi Jacobson’s view, attire is ultimately an opportunity—not a burden. Each day offers a new chance to dress our souls intentionally, using both garments and behaviors to reveal, protect, or transform. The paradox of clothing—both hiding and revealing—mirrors life’s balance of privacy and connection, vulnerability and strength.
Remember: dressing with intention is not just about outer appearance, but about honoring the hidden and visible aspects of your being.
If you’re inspired to explore deeper, Rabbi Jacobson’s class on spiritual garments offers a profound journey into the Kabbalistic understanding of clothing, self-expression, and soulful living.
