בְּגָדִים

A wholesome person [adam kasher] should endeavor to be dressed with some appropriate dignity, if possible, and should not be contemptible in appearance. And all the more so the Tzaddik — he certainly must be dressed with dignity, for through this he is held in esteem in people's eyes and can draw them close to the service of Hashem Yisborach; were he not dressed with dignity, he would not be held in esteem in people's eyes at all. And even Hashem Yisborach Himself, as it were — when He wished to make Himself known to the world, meaning that the world should recognize and know Him, blessed be He — He also clothed Himself, as it were, in garments: these are all the signs and wonders [osos u'mofesim] that Hashem performed in Egypt, etc., etc. — all of which are in the dimension of garments [levushim] to Him, blessed be He; and through this, the children of Israel [bnei Yisroel] recognized His greatness each time more and more, and merited to draw close to Him, blessed be He, as was His will. [Translator's note: No source citation appears in this edition for this teaching.]