Jewish Life #35. Beresjiet serie #19. The Multicolored Tunic

You may have met him; a brother entering shul in a multi-colored tallit. Most of us would be a bit surprised. At least I do. Isn't such a multi-colored robe a bit exaggerated? Based on this, the reaction of Joseph's brothers is somewhat understandable, isn't it?
 
Commenting on the multi-colored tunic (ketonet passim), Rabbi Solomon Ephraim Lunshitz (1550-1619), a Rosh Yeshivah in Poland and Rabbi of Prague: Jacob made him [Joseph] a fine woolen coat, because the divine service was then performed by the firstborn, who served as a priest to the Most High God. Therefore, Jacob made Joseph a coat for ‘honor and glory’ after the fashion of the priestly garments later used in the Tabernacle and in the Temple. He was then called a son of old age, meaning that although he was one of the youngest, he was attired like the eldest and behave like the eldest. To Jacob he was like the eldest son, because he possessed the birthright.’[1]
 
According to Rabbi Nachman, the multicolored coat is worn by him because he would interact with so many different types of people, from tzaddikim to wicked people. Joseph needed to be able to cloak the light of God in various ways, colors etc.[2]
 
For honor and glory or for the ability to deal with different people, many commentators point to the theme of 'leadership'. One of them is Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik (the Rav).
 
The Rav comments: ‘The multi-colored coat which Joseph wore symbolized his multifaceted personality. There were many colors to his shirt; his greatness manifested itself in contradiction.’[3]
According to the Rav, the prima facie interpretation is that Joseph had two visions. One was of material and economic power, the other around spiritual greatness. He wanted to be powerful in a political sense, and at the same time to be great spiritually, to be loved and known by his wisdom and kindness. On the one hand, he was very practical by managing the Egyptian economy, and at the same time he was a dreamer, fascinated by a world and humanity which reached the apex of moral ascent. Joseph was the integration of the earthly sheaves and heavenly bodies. The greatness of Joseph, according to the Rav, is expressed by the strange merger of two mutually exclusive powers; one of logical and practical skills, in contact with reality, and another one of dreaming, questing and reaching out for something beyond reality. The coat was multicolored, not monochromatic. From the Rav's interpretation, diversity can be understood as a characteristic of leadership.
 
We might be at most surprised when someone presents themselves in shul in a multi-colored robe, but the brothers were envious of Joseph (37:11).
 
All in all, this Bible passage teaches us to better absorb first impressions and suspend our judgment. As father Jacob did: he awaited the matter (37:11). Perhaps there is a leader behind the cloth. After all, the outward multi-colored appearance could well indicate the diversity of a person's interior, and thus greatness.
 
Finally, Knesset Yisrael, the Congregation of Israel, is a merger of ideas, the integration of all colors in the spectrum. Indeed, a combination of contradictory ideas rather than merely an assembly of individuals. The source of this concept of our community is the kabalistic understanding of the contradictory attributes of the Almighty, which are resolved in the manner in which He implements His will.[4]
 
In this, in conclusion I want to point out a core theme in the Torah, namely Integrated Diversity; the harmony of yet opposing qualities. Thus, the Eternal is perfectly capable of being unlimitedly loving and merciful (Chesed), and at the same time (Gevurah) righteous (Din). It is up to us humans to imitate Him in this. Joseph's multi-colored robe refers to this principle.
 
[1] Rosenberg, A.J. (1994). The Book of Genesis (Vol. 3). Judaica Press, p.463b.
[2] Kramer, C & Hall, Y. (2011). Rebbe Nachman’s Torah (Genesis), Breslov Research Institute, p.277.
[3] Lustiger (2013). Chumash with Commentary based on the Teachings of Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik. OUPress, p.274. 
[4] For an in-depth analyze, I refer to Rav Soloveitchik’s book Vision and Leadership, chapter 1 (Joseph the Dreamer), pp.1-27. 

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