Light and vessel in the Kohen Gadol

במד' לתחתונים ב' אמירות אמור ואמרת כי אותן שהקב"ה מקרבם אליו נותן להם הארה מלמעלה וגם נותן להם כלים להיות מוכנים לקבל ההארות הבאות להם.

In the Midrash: to those below there are two expressions of "saying" — "Emor" (say) and "v'amarta" (and you shall say) (Vayikra 21:1) — for those whom HaKadosh Baruch Hu draws near to Himself, He gives them an illumination from Above, and He also gives them keilim (vessels) so that they will be prepared to receive the illuminations that come to them.

The doubled language of "saying" to the Kohanim hints that when Hashem brings someone close, He grants two gifts: the spiritual light itself, and the inner vessels needed to contain and receive that light.

וכ"כ והכהן הגדול כו' אשר יוצק על ראשו כו' ומילא כו' ידו ללבוש כו' הבגדים.

And so it is written: "And the Kohen Gadol... upon whose head was poured (the anointing oil)... and who was inaugurated (lit. whose hand was filled) to wear... the garments" (Vayikra 21:10).

The verse describing the Kohen Gadol mentions both the oil poured upon his head and the special garments he wears — two distinct elements that the Sefas Emes will now explain as the "light" and the "vessel."

שזה הכ"ג ניתן לו גדלות הן בהכנת כלי הגוף שנתגדל מכל אחיו כמ"ש במד' מזה.

For this Kohen Gadol was given greatness — both in the preparation of the vessel of the body, in that he was made greater than all his brethren, as the Midrash says concerning this.

One dimension of his greatness was physical and external: the Kohen Gadol was to be elevated above his fellow Kohanim even in bodily stature and standing — this is the refined "vessel."

והיינו שיתרומם מלבוש הגוף.

That is, that he should be elevated through the garment of the body.

His physical being and bearing — the "garment of the body" — were themselves to be raised up and made fitting to serve.

וגם ניתן בו נשמה יתירה מלמעלה.

And also there was placed within him an additional neshamah (extra soul) from Above.

The second dimension of his greatness was inner and spiritual: an extra soul-illumination granted from On High.

ועל ב' אלו כתי' בכל עת יהיו בגדיך לבנים תיקון הגוף לכן כתיב בו בכל עת והוא מעין עבודת ימי המעשה.

And concerning these two, it is written: "At all times let your garments be white" (Koheles 9:8) — this refers to the rectification of the body; therefore it says "at all times," and it is akin to the avodah of the weekdays.

The "white garments" worn "at all times" represent the constant, ongoing work of refining the body — the vessel — which parallels the steady, everyday avodah of the six weekdays.

ושמן על ראשך היא הנשמה הבאה בשבתות ובמועדים.

And "let oil not be lacking upon your head" (Koheles 9:8) — this is the neshamah that comes on Shabbosos and Yamim Tovim.

The "oil upon the head" represents the higher illumination — the extra soul — which descends specifically on Shabbos and the festivals, paralleling the anointing oil poured on the Kohen Gadol's head.

והכהן הגדול הי' בו ב' אלו המדריגות בהתגלות כנ"ל:

And the Kohen Gadol had both of these levels manifest within him, as explained.

In the Kohen Gadol, both gifts — the refined bodily vessel and the additional soul from Above — were openly revealed and active at once.

Summary: The doubled "saying" to the Kohanim teaches that when Hashem draws a person close He gives both a spiritual illumination and the vessels to receive it. In the Kohen Gadol these appear as the elevation of his very body (the vessel, like the weekday avodah of "white garments") and the additional neshamah from Above (the light, like the "oil" of Shabbos and Yom Tov) — both fully revealed within him.