The Multicolored Coat

You are G‑d’s sewing needle.

Your mitzvahs are His thread.

Now you can understand all these journeys of your life: You are pulling a thread, stitching together the confusion of this world into a single, meaningful story of wisdom and divine truth, a magnificent patchwork of many colors.

Predictably, the world resists your mitzvahs. But, as a needle, you are firm and sharp enough to pierce through any challenge.

And as a needle, you have an opposite side as well: Behind your will of steel lies an openness, a sense of awe, wonder, and humility through which a long, divine thread can enter.

Indeed, you will find that the fabric of the world also has its openings, its soft spots, and inherent beauty through which the thread of divine consciousness is meant to pass.

Be a sewing needle. Be tough. Be humble. You are stitching together a beautiful, multicolored world.

Reshimot 5.

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Miketz

By Tzvi Freeman

From the wisdom of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, of righteous memory; words and condensation by Rabbi Tzvi Freeman. Subscribe and get your dose daily. To order Rabbi Freeman’s latest book, Wisdom to Heal the Earth, click here.

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Rebbe means teacher. Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson is seventh in a prestigious line of chassidic rebbes. Even after his passing, he is known worldwide as simply "The Rebbe"- a Rebbe for any person in the world. This book offers every person a taste of the Rebbe's wisdom, condensed from over 50 years of letters, public talks, private conversations, and written works. Presented in an accessible format.

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12 Comments

Jennifer New York City August 22, 2024

Wonderful! Reply

Brenda Toronto, Canada March 7, 2018

Tapestry Needle G_d designed one magnificent tapestry.
All the individual forms are drawn.

He requires those with an open heart to pick up the threads and pierce through the tough fabric of the resistance of the ego in order to complete the tapestry by connecting all the pieces together.

We are the picture on that tapestry. When all the disconnected parts, different forms and colors are connected into one picture, we will see the completed lofty structure of creation, 'Adam', the living soul of humanity.

All are welcome to participate in this work of connection.
Those who have the will to implement the method disclosed by the Kabbalsts ( Adam, Abraham, Moses, the ARI, RASHBI, Baal ShemTov, Baal HaSulam and others) will begin to sew the threads together.

Only through diligent work against our resistance to become one interconnected whole, and motivated to aim for the goal, will we complete this magnificent tapestry together.This is our gift to the Creator of the Masterpiece. Reply

Marian Netherlands May 11, 2013

Reaction on anonymous I had almost the same experience some years ago. Came out my house, out on the street, only woman, fragile. Than two boys on an motor bike came near me, slowing down. I felt in a split second that I could do two things:
get scared, in the defence or let go all my defences and rely, trust them too and look them i the eyes, love them, smile. I felt the moment of my free will to choose ..
. I choose to trust life and them, just smiled and said Hello, crossed quietly over the street, felt as happy as could be.
They did not rob me, jumped back on their bike and Drove away..
I heard vagely how one of them asked the other: why didn't you do it? And how the other said somewhat puzzled: I don't know why but I simply COULD not...
Was I G'd's needle?
Because I felt how I contracted in a second in one clear point with two essential choices, and choose for love and my nothingness, trusting the thread/connection? Reply

Anonymous May 7, 2013

.. loftiness can become somewhat compulsive-like ocd- that self flattering voice becomes an obstacle in my day to day life. .. .
I was at school, my campus happens to be rampant with thugs and criminals. This individual was walking in my general direction. We caught eyes and he motioned to me. It wasn't the colour of his skin or the raggedy clothes he was wearing, his eyes.. he had a dark stare, I've seen it before, it's the look of a drug addict. It was worse than that, he had anger in his eyes. There was nobody around, I decided to look him in the face smile and walk the other way and Thank G-d he kept going. Afterfeelingsovulnerable(franklyemasculated) and scared for my life. I felt overcome by love. it was a miracle
118) Gratefulness: A person is happy when he knows something worthwhile belongs to him. A person is very happy when he feels he is small and yet he owns something very great. We are all finite owners of the infinite. Reply

Mark Belnick uSA May 7, 2013

G-d's Needle Beautiful. HaRav's metaphors were worth a million words -- and far more effective. Thank you for sharing it and Hashem for giving us Rav MMS zt"l. Reply

katrin Germany May 7, 2013

This is the most beautiful thing I've ever read! I think I'm going to cry in a second. This is so wonderful. Never in my lifetime will I read anything more beautiful than this!
Thank you so much for this! Reply

Marian Netherlands May 7, 2013

'"with the world be firm and sharp'....
Sharp as a needle sounds like picking on poor world. And we all are part of the world too? By breathing on her, eating from her, finding shelter under her trees and in our houses of brickes and stones.
So please, show the world your compassion, respect and empathy... don't make it your ennemy, for that what you fight will fight back on you.
What goes around comes around that is an 'old law'.
Some religions call it 'karma'. I think it 'logic"

If f that's true, than I prefer exercising in compassion (instead of using my needlepoint more then necessary).
For everything and everyone in the world is our mirror..

Needlepoint is very useful in focussing, in 'getting to the point' and solving problems, and.... in repairing garments, making beautiful embroidery.
Oi.. as I see now, sometimes (in major areas) needle is really useful in connecting parts (opposites?) together. Only with a (linen?) thread the needle can "bond" and will never be a threat. Reply

Michal Germany May 7, 2013

Gods needle What a beautiful metaphor! And it is really true, when you look at it.
Thanks, Rabbi Tzvi! Reply

David Harold Chester Petach Tikva, Israel December 11, 2022

in response to Michal:

A stitch in time saves nine! Reply

Kathleen Houston December 27, 2010

Texas sized onions.... Bless you! I hope you had a wonderful Holiday Season!

Thank you for dedication and words of encouragement and direction.

You are blessed.

Kathleen Reply

carol atkin melbourne, australia December 26, 2010

the needle i read and re read this quote, finally, in our time of desperate need, we do not feel like being firm and sharp with any one or anything!! we feel very scared and lonely with our life, we pray morning and night to overcome this feeling. to feel the presence of g d around us is sometimes all we have. Reply

Goodness Los Angeles, CA November 4, 2007

Nice! I like this one Reply

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