בס”ד
By Rabbi Moshe Goodman, Kollel Ohr Shlomo, Hebron
Painting by: Baruch Nachshon z”l
The Vilna Gaon (beginning of Kol HaTor) teaches us that Mashiach ben Yosef has three primary missions: Revealing the secrets of the Torah, ingathering exiles, and removing the spirit of impurity from the Land. Considering our parsha’s episode of Yosef’s victory over Potiphar’s wife’s temptation, it is not surprising that the Messiah referred to by Yosef’s name is directly connected to removing impurity from the Land. Indeed, Yosef Hatzadik has, from the past until the present, been one of the primary figures symbolizing the quest for purity, especially in relationships.
This painting discusses the theme of purity and holiness connected to gazing at the tzitzit and guarding one’s eyes as found in parshat tzitzit. We see the word “uzechartem” repeated three times at the top of the painting. It seenms that this matter hints to our Sages interpretation that one is to remember three things when seeing the tzitzit (Menahot 43b): the recitation of shema [as our Sages say that its timing is determined from when one can discern the white from the blue of the tzitzit], the prohibition of kilayim [mentioned in juxtaposition to tzitzit in parshat Ki Tetze hinting to the fact that kilayim is allowed in tzitzit when having techelet], and all the mitzvot in general. This matter may be based on the fact that the word tzitzit is mentioned three times in this passage.
We see opposite pyramids/corners, apparently hinting to the opposition of good versus evil. The good is the corner of the garment where the tzitzit are placed, and the evil is the pyramid of Egypt, from which Hashem freed us, as mentioned explicitly in the passage of tzitzit. Within the pyramid of Egypt we see at its top a snake, a known symbol of evil, from the episode of Adam and Eve. We see drops of water surrounding the tziztzit, apparently hinting to blessing that comes with purity, and also purity is strongly connected to water, as is seen immersing in the waters of the mikveh. We see eight prongs of chariot-wheels, hinting to the chariots of the Egyptians, and opposing apparently the eight strands of the tzitzit.
The sefer Shaar Hachatzer, by Rabbi David Ben Shimon, says (section 380) that living in Hebron has the quality of tikun habrit, rectifying the covenant, for as we see in the title quote of this parsha, Hebron is linked to Yosef, the symbol of purity and faithfulness to the covenant.