Ketonet

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The Ketonet was the tunic worn by the Jewish Kohen Gadol (High Priest) and kohenim (priests) when they served in the Mishkan (Tabernacle) and the Temple in Jerusalem.

It was made of pure linen, covering the entire body from the neck to the feet, with sleeves reaching to the wrists. That of the High Priest was embroidered (Exodus 28:39); those of the priests were plain (Exodus 28:40).

On Yom Kippur, the High priest would change into a special ketonet made of fine linen that was not embroidered when he would enter the Holy of Holies. This ketonet could only be used once, with a new set made for each year.

According to the Talmud, the wearing of the ketonet atoned for the sin of bloodshed on the part of the Children of Israel.^[1]