LEV879 No Kohen with a physical defect shall serve in the Beis HaMikdash. A person's actions make an impression on onlookers according to his importance. If someone is well formed and his appearance is proper and pleasing, then when he acts with virtue people watching him are impressed and delighted by all that he does. By contrast, if someone's appearance is blemished due to limbs that are not well formed, his actions will not generate such delight in the hearts of onlookers. Accordingly, since every Kohen is a messenger of the Jewish people and atonement for our sins is dependent upon him, it is only fitting that he be pleasing in appearance. All of his limbs must be well formed and all of his ways must be pleasant. Thereby, the people will be drawn after him. In addition, when the Kohen performs the avodah, the perfection of his physical form might allude to matters that, upon reflection, can serve to elevate and purify an onlooker’s soul. Therefore, it would be counterproductive were there anything abnormal about the Kohen’s external appearance, lest those needing atonement be prevented from thinking the proper thoughts.