By Rabbi Craig H. Ezring

In ancient days during the Yom Kippur Service, the Kohen Gadol, the High Priest would have a moment when he would hold up a scarlet red thread. This red thread represented the sins of the people and when the thread was held up, it would be a way of expressing that the sins of the people were forgiven and that they were as white as snow.

But why would red represent sin? Many of us can remember the story of the Scarlett Letter, where a woman convicted of adultery had to wear a bright red scarlet letter “A” on her chest. I have often wondered why that would be her punishment. After all, wouldn’t that have made many of the menfolk back in her day stare at her chest and wouldn’t that tend to lead them to lust? We talk about the color red for anger as we have the expression, “I was so mad, I was seeing red.”

In “The Color Song”, written by Patricia Shih, we learn that red is “The color of the climbing rose and tomatoes.” We learn that red is “The color of chickenpox and a bloody nose and angry words.” And, while it’s not in the song, red can also be the color of a delicious apple and, if you read the story of Adam and Eve in most English versions of the Bible, then you have been taught to associate red with sin via an apple.

And yet, red is also the color that we see on a stoplight or on a stop sign. Now, it’s no secret that many people behind the wheel of a car down here in Sunny South Florida don’t observe the rules of the road and they fail to stop at a red light, I think the idea of the color red being used as a sign that we should stop is a wonderful thing.

Red also happens to be the color we turn when we feel embarrassed. I have long been a fan of watching shows along the ilk of Judge Judy and I have noticed something. Next time you watch, check it out. You see, people don’t just get red with anger. When someone listens closely to the judge and is scolded for what they failed to realize they had done wrong, some turn red, not in anger, but red with embarrassment.

Okay, maybe not many, but some. And let me tell you something, those who turn red with embarrassment realize that they have done wrong, they are the ones who have a good chance of stopping themselves before making the same mistake again. But those who don’t turn red, well, sadly, there is a good likelihood that they will never admit their mistakes and, therefore, they will see no reason to stop themselves from doing the very same thing in the future.

So look around at all the beautiful colors that G-d has put on this earth and the next time you see the color red, let it remind you to stop and think before you do something that will cause you embarrassment.

Shalom my friends,

Rabbi Craig H. Ezring

Rabbi Ezring is the spiritual leader of Temple Beth Israel of Deerfield Beach. We welcome you to join our warm and caring family for Shabbat and festival services. We’ll make your heart glow…who knows, you might even fall in love with Shul all over again.