Parshas Achrai

The Kohen Gadol was not allowed to wear any gold when he entered the Kodesh Hakedoshim on Yom Kippur. Rashi explains that since the eigel was gold, we don’t want that sin to be remembered at the holiest time of the year- ‘The prosecution cannot become the defense’. The korban Ahron offered for himself and the Kohanim on Yom Kippur was par- a cow.
Why is it that no gold was worn for there is to be no reference to the eigel, yet the offering of the Kohen Gadol was an adult eigel- a cow? Why wasn’t that a reminder- one that we were trying to avoid- of the eigel?
To properly understand Klal Yisroel’s sin of the eigal is beyond the scope of our understanding. However we can learn the words of Chazal and how they explained it to us. We are taught that on some level Klal Yisroel was guilty of worshiping Avodah Zorah. That was Klal Yisroel. Ahron, however, made the eigal. How is it possible that Ahron- the Kohen Gadol, the head of Shevet Levi- who was the only tribe completely innocent of any wrongdoing at the eigel- stumbled so low to actually build an idol?
The Chein Tov, (I would like to publicly thank my uncle Yossi for sharing this piece with me and for opening the glorious sefer to the general public) in the name of R’ Shlome Alkavetz- the Baal Lecha Dodi- explains that Ahron, by making the eigel, was glorifying Hashem’s name. The Gemora says that if one contemplates committing a sin, he is not punished, except for the sin of avodah zorah. If one merely contemplates and thinks of worshiping avodah zorah his thoughts are like deeds and he is guilty of sinning. Klal Yisroel came to Ahron. They wanted to make an idol. Ahron realized that at that point - they were planning and wanted to worship avodah zorah - they were guilty already, even before they took any action. Klal Yisroel would be punished for their thoughts and no one would know why they were punished- for only Hashem knows people’s thoughts. Ahron felt that a great chillul Hashem would ensue had Klal Yisroel been punished for no apparent reason. By building the eigel, Ahron demonstrated for all to realize that Klal Yisroel was deserving of punishment.
The sin of the eigal was a shameful episode for Klal Yisroel. Hence when the kohan Gadol went into the Holy of Holies on Yom Kippur he did not wear any gold for it reminds of that shameful act. Ahron in his own avodah on that Holy day- when he asks for forgiveness for himself and all of the Kohanim- has nothing to be ashamed of, he wasn’t guilty of any sin at the eigel. Thus Ahron can bring a porah on Yom Kippur.