Daf Yomi - Sukkah 51 - Worn Out Trousers

by Rabbi Yosef Dov Karr

Tosfos wonders why they used the worn out trousers and belts of the Kohanim for the wicks. Why did they not use the worn out Kesones, the shirt worn by the Kohen? Perhaps one could answer based upon the Gemara in Zevachim which states that the pants worn by the Kohen atoned for the sin of arayos, immorality, and the belt atoned for improper thoughts of the heart. When they performed the nissuch hamayim, the drawing of the water, there was a large gathering of men and women who would mingle together and the Chachamim were concerned about the men having improper thoughts and there was a general concern about the mingling. It was precisely for this reason that they erected a balcony to keep the men and women separate. The Kesones, however, atoned for the sin of murder which was not relevant at the performance of the nissuch hamayim.