Ezechiele 21:21 Midrash: Ein Yaakov (Glick Edition)

The prince of the exile said to R. Huna: "Whence do we know that the wearing of the wreath is prohibited nowadays?" The latter replied: "This is merely prohibited by the Rabbis, as we are taught in the following Mishnah: During the Vespasian War, the Rabbis decreed not to wear bridal wreaths nor to exercise betrothal ceremonies." Meanwhile R. Huna, who went out to R. Chisda then said to the exilarch: "It is from the following passage (Ez. 21 21) Thus hath said the Lord Eternal, remove the mitre and take off the crown; this shall not always be so. Exalt him that is low and make him low that is high. What relation has the mitre to the crown? We must therefore say that while the mitre is on the head of the High-priest, the crown may be on the head of every man (at festivals); but as soon as the mitre was removed from the head of the High-priest, then the crown of every man should be removed." Meantime R. Huna returned and found them discussing it. Whereupon he said to them: "I can swear to you that it is only a Rabbinical enactment; however, Chisda (grace) is your name and Chisdai (graceful) are your words." Rabbina met Mar b. Ashi when he was preparing a wreath for his daughter [at her wedding.] The former said to the latter: "Does not the master hold the comparison, Remove the mitre and take of the crown?" Whereupon the latter answered: "It should be compared unto the High-priest, which refers merely to men and not to women." What is the meaning of This shall not he always so? R. Avira expounded, sometimes in the name of R. Ami and at other times in the name of R. Assi: "When the Holy One, praised be He! said unto Israel: 'Remove the mitre and replace the crown,' the ministering angels said unto the Holy One, praised be He! 'Sovereign of the Universe, is this the reward to Israel, because they have spoken the words Na'asse (we shall fulfill) before V'nihsma (we shall hearken) while on Mt. Sinai.' Whereupon the Lord said to them: 'This was not always so with Israel, who made low the High and exalted him that was low.' "