We heard that the Rebbe once said this. When Joseph refused Potipher’s wife, it is written, “She grabbed him by his garment” (Genesis 39:12). The forces of the Other Side and the Evil One grab a person by his garment.
The necessity of obtaining garments and clothing can disturb a person greatly and hinder him in serving God. Therefore, “she grabbed him by his garment.”
If you are a master of your soul and have strong confidence in God, you will pay no attention to this. You may have no clothing to wear, but it will not disturb you, since you do not allow yourself to be distracted by such things.
It is written, “He left his garment with her and fled” (ibid.). You must leave your concern about garments and clothing behind and escape the forces of evil. Pay no attention to what you lack. Do what God requires of you and serve Him to the best of your ability.
שָׁמַעְתִּי בְּשֵׁם רַבֵּנוּ ז"ל מִכְּבָר: "וַתִּתְפְּשֵׂהוּ בְּבִגְדוֹ" (בְּרֵאשִׁית לט), שֶׁהַבַּעַל דָּבָר וְהַסִּטְרָא אַחֲרָא תּוֹפֶסֶת אֶת הָאָדָם בְּבִגְדוֹ, דְּהַיְנוּ שֶׁמַּטְרִיד אוֹתוֹ בְּטִרְדַת בְּגָדָיו וּמַלְבּוּשָׁיו.
We heard that the Rebbe once said this. When Joseph refused Potipher’s wife, it is written, “She grabbed him by his garment” (Genesis 39:12). The forces of the Other Side and the Evil One grab a person by his garment.
כִּי טִרְדַּת הִצְטָרְכוּת מַלְבּוּשִׁים וּבְגָדִים שֶׁל אָדָם הֵם מְבַלְבְּלִין מְאֹד אֶת הָאָדָם וּמוֹנְעִים אוֹתוֹ עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה מֵעֲבוֹדַת הַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ. וְזֶהוּ "וַתִּתְפְּשֵׂהוּ בְּבִגְדוֹ".
The necessity of obtaining garments and clothing can disturb a person greatly and hinder him in serving God. Therefore, “she grabbed him by his garment.”
אַךְ מִי שֶׁהוּא בַּעַל נֶפֶשׁ וְלִבּוֹ חָזָק בַּה', אֵינוֹ מַשְׁגִּיחַ גַּם עַל זֶה. אַף־עַל־פִּי שֶׁאֵין לוֹ בֶּגֶד לִלְבֹּשׁ, אַף־עַל־פִּי־כֵן אֵינוֹ מַטְרִיד עַצְמוֹ בָּזֶה וְאֵינוֹ רוֹצֶה לְהַנִּיחַ עַצְמוֹ לְבַלְבֵּל בָּזֶה.
If you are a master of your soul and have strong confidence in God, you will pay no attention to this. You may have no clothing to wear, but it will not disturb you, since you do not allow yourself to be distracted by such things.
וְזֶהוּ "וַיַּנַּח בִּגְדוֹ אֶצְלָהּ וַיָּנָס" וְכוּ', שֶׁמַּנִּיחַ בִּגְדוֹ וּמַלְבּוּשׁוֹ וְנָס וּבוֹרֵחַ מֵהֶם וְאֵינוֹ מַשְׁגִּיחַ כְּלָל עַל זֶה. רַק עוֹשֶׂה אֶת שֶׁלּוֹ בַּעֲבוֹדַת ה' כְּפִי מַה שֶּׁיָּכוֹל.
It is written, “He left his garment with her and fled” (ibid.). You must leave your concern about garments and clothing behind and escape the forces of evil. Pay no attention to what you lack. Do what God requires of you and serve Him to the best of your ability.