<Li> Ephod: a richly embroidered vest or apron with two onyx engraved gemstones on the shoulders, on which were engraved the names of the tribes of Israel </Li> <Li> Priestly breastplate (Hebrew hoshen): with twelve gems, each engraved with the name of one of the tribes; a pouch in which he probably carried the Urim and Thummim . It was fastened to the Ephod </Li> <Li> On the front of the turban was a golden plate inscribed with the words: "Holiness unto YHWH" attached to the mitznefet . </Li> <P> The high priest, like all priests, would minister barefoot when he was serving in the Temple . Like all of the priests, he had to immerse himself in the ritual bath before vesting and wash his hands and his feet before performing any sacred act . The Talmud teaches that neither the kohanim nor the Kohen Gadol were fit to minister unless they wore their priestly vestments: "While they are clothed in the priestly garments, they are clothed in the priesthood; but when they are not wearing the garments, the priesthood is not upon them" (B. Zevachim 17: B). It is further taught that just as the sacrifices facilitate an atonement for sin, so do the priestly garments (B. Zevachim 88b). The high priest had two sets of holy garments: the "golden garments" detailed above, and a set of white "linen garments" (bigdei ha - bad) which he wore only on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) (Leviticus 16: 4). On that day, he would change his holy garments four times, beginning in the golden garments but changing into the Linen Garments for the two moments when he would enter the Holy of Holies (the first time to offer the blood of atonement and the incense, and the second time to retrieve the censer), and then change back again into the golden garments after each time . He would immerse in the ritual bath before each change of garments, washing his hands and his feet after removing the garments and again before putting the other set on . The linen garments were only four in number, those corresponding to the garments worn by all priests (undergarments, tunic, sash and turban), but made only of white linen, with no embroidery . They could be worn only once, new sets being made each year . </P>

The golden garments of the kohen gadol shemot