(1) Of the blue, purple, and crimson yarns they also made the service vestments for officiating in the sanctuary; they made Aaron’s sacral vestments—as the LORD had commanded Moses. (2) The ephod was made of gold, blue, purple, and crimson yarns, and fine twisted linen. (3) They hammered out sheets of gold and cut threads to be worked into designs among the blue, the purple, and the crimson yarns, and the fine linen.
There is a focus on four colors:
1) Techelet - wool dyed blue
2) Argaman - wool dyed purple
3) Tola'at Shani - wool dyed scarlet red
4) Shesh - linen (white)
All four fabrics woven together to make:
- Screen of the gate of the courtyard
- the door of the Ohel Mo'ed
- the parokhet dividing between the Holy and the Holy of Holies
- Most of Kohen Gadol's clothes
Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch explains that "all the colors are found in man's essence and in his relationship with God." He explains that what this means is that each one has a different connection in this way. They are listed below from least important to most important and in the Bible, they are referenced in the opposite order.
Linen (white), which represents the vegetative dimension.
Scarlet, which represents the animated dimension.
Purple, which represents the human dimension.
Blue, which represents the Divine dimension.
(https://www.etzion.org.il/en/lecture-103-colors-mishkan-part-ii#_ftn8)
1. Techelet - Blue
According to many rabbis and R. Sampson Raphael Hirsch, the blue in many ways symbolizes the presence of heaven on earth which was the essence of the entire Tabernacle and Temple. Rabbi Hirsch explains that blue is "seen on the horizon and that it covers that which is not seen, the Divine dimension of creation."
2. Argaman - Purple
Purple (argaman) is mentioned only in connection with the mitzvah of building the Mikdash, the priestly garments, the various screens, and the cover of the burnt-offering altar.
Chazal and modern historical scholarship concur that argaman is a dark red, the shade of blood – what we have termed purple.
3. Tola'at Shani - Red
Red symbolizes animated life, meaning health and physical perfection.
It can also symbolize blood from both a sinful aspect (i.e. blood on your hands) and just the focus of life depending on blood.
4. Shesh - White Linen
The Maharal of Prague said "The color white is absolute simplicity, for the color white is not called a color, for this color has absolute simplicity....The color white symbolizes the simplicity of the sacrificial service."
Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch explains that "The color white describes in all places, according to human understanding, purity....This color symbolizes both physical and moral purity....We must therefore understand that the color white of the linen is a symbol of purity, of plant-like purity. The statutes relating to moral purity are very prominent in the Torah; they demand that one restrain natural life, passions and lusts, that one distance oneself from sexual corruption and from the desecration of life. These are the conditions without which it is impossible to arrive at spiritual perfection and moral closeness to God. Thus, it is evident that the color white of the linen symbolizes purity. Purity is that level of nobility demanded by the Torah…"
Conclusion
The reasons why the details are so important are because of the Tabernacle aspired to be - a home for Gd on earth.
Each item therein had a symbolism and just a cursory glance at the colour scheme gives an idea of why Gd was so specific in his instructions as to which colours should be used in the materials.
This applies to us today. Judaism prides itself on the details - the minutiae that make our religion so special.
However, were it not for the details, we wouldn't have those moments throughout the year that make what we do so special. From the way we organise our Services, to the efforts we go to, in order to enjoy our festivals like Rosh Hashanah, Sukkot and Pesach - it is the attention to detail that makes those times so special.
The devil may be in the detail but at the same time, so is the Divine Spirit that resides in each and every one of us.
Shabbat Shalom