The priest who has been elevated above his brothers, upon whose head the anointment oil has been poured or who has been installed by wearing the garments, must not leave his hair uncut nor rend his garments.
Leviticus 21:10
Having already established the priesthood – a subset of society devoted to holiness – the Torah further establishes the high priesthood – an individual representing absolute holiness, holiness itself. Just as the priests inspire the people to sanctify their lives, the high priest inspires the priests to maintain the purity of their holiness.
Similarly, we all possess an inner priesthood – the part of our lives that we devote to our own spiritual growth and the spiritual advancement of those around us. But in addition, we each have our inner “high priest,” the innermost point of our Divine soul, which is our point of absolute connection to G-d. We must recognize the preeminence of this inner point, re-experiencing it periodically. Doing so ensures that our spiritual pursuits not become tainted with ulterior motives.
Daily Wisdom 3