Dvar Torah for Parshat VaYeshev

Based on Sichot Haran (Rabbi Nachman's Wisom) #100

"After awhile his boss's wife had her eyes on Yosef 'Sleep with me,' she said. He adamantly refused... 'How could I do something so terribly wrong?! It would be a sin'... She spoke to Yosef everyday, but he totally ignored her. He wouldn't even [touch her] or spend time with her... One day [Yosef] came home to do his work. None of the staff were there. [His boss's wife] grabbed him by his garment. 'Sleep with me!' she begged. He ran from her, leaving his garment in her hand, and fled outside."

(Genesis 39:7-12)

The Side of Evil grabs a person by his clothing. It gets a person so involved in his clothing needs in order to distract the person from his real goal: serving God. That's the meaning of "[She] grabbed him by his shirt."

If, however, you are spiritually attuned and remain strongly focused on God, you won't be sidetracked by your lack of clothing. You'll buy clothing that's appropriate for your work and station in life without going overboard, without kow-towing to every change in fashions and fads. You won't feel compelled to buy new shoes and shirts with the change of seasons. Like Yosef who left "his garment in her hand, and fled", you should leave your clothing concerns behind and flee from sin, running instead to do whatever mitzvot you can.

Agutn Shabbos!
Shabbat Shalom!