Vayeshev: judgement

Vayeshev: judgement 

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The brothers hate Joseph because he is the favorite. Jacob makes Joseph a Pasim coat, a rainbow coat, a coat representing the coalition of the colors. 

 A coat of  pyes .   The Talmud reports that ,in the Temple,  there was a lottery to select the Cohen who would perform the service. The lottery would  bring peace among the Cohanim, so that they did  not kill each other over the privilege of doing the service. [This seems to have happened.] This coat does not bring peace.  Perhaps the coat becomes a symbol of fate selecting Joseph over his brothers and perhaps the dreams mean the same thing.  Does the fact that the winner is lucky,  or even talented- gifted from Gd, quench the envy? 

The murderous envy that the brothers had for Joseph is expressed in the words וַיְקַנְאוּ-בו, אֶחָי echoing the feelings that Cain had for Hevel. 

In this parsha, clothing [trappings?] is often the source of error.  Joseph's torn coat is enough for Jacob to erroneously conclude that Jospeh was mauled to death by a beast.  Tamar's veil is enough for Judah to take her for a prostitute. Joseph's clothing in the hand of Potiphar's wife is enough to imprison him for attempted rape. 

Jumping to conclusions on the basis of circumstantial evidence is risky.  These strories are training  for  scientific and legal minds. Far  fetched explanations  are sometimes true.  

Watch out for the fat tails.