Vayeishev

The passuk says Yisroel loved Yosef from all his sons “ki ven zekunim hu lo and he made for him a kesones pasim.  The brothers saw that their father loved him from all his brothers and they hated him.”

The Gemara brings: Rava bar Machsya amar Rav Chama bar Gurya amar Rav said because of the weight of two sela’im of milas that Yaakov gave to Yosef more than the brothers, the brothers became jealous and it caused our fathers to go down to Mitzrayim.  Rashi brings two explanations of two sela’im of milas.  First Rashi explains two sela’im of milas isn’t exact, but means that Yaakov gave Yosef a special garment worth more.  Second, Rashi brings from Rav Yitzchak HaLevi that around the pas of his hand he gave him milas, wool or silk, but not a whole special garment.  Avi Mori shlita explains this with a mashal: Some chassidim wear frocks.  The Rebbe has some extra silk or fur around the sleeves and/ or collar, which gives importance and kavod to the Rebbe over the chassidim.  So too Yaakov gave Yosef a small amount of extra wool or silk which caused the brothers to be jealous and they ended up going down to Mitzrayim.

The passuk says Yosef was “ven zekunim hu lo.” Rashi explains this means 1- Yaakov and Yosef looked the same; 2- Yosef was a chacham; 3- he was born in Yaakov’s old age.  Although Yosef has all of these attributes, still the Gemara says that Yaakov should not have favored Yosef by giving him an extra garment of more wool or silk; one should never make one son different from the rest!  If it may cause hatred or jealousy one must be very careful.

May Hashem help us be mechanech without causing jealousy or hatred and bring the geulah shleima quickly and in our days!