ויסר פרעה את טבעתו מעל ידו ויתן אתה על יד יוסף וילבש אתו בגדי שש וישם רבד הזהב על צוארו
“And removing his signet ring from his hand, Pharaoh put it on Yosef’s hand; and he had him dressed in robes of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck.” (Bereishis 41:42)
When Pharaoh heard Yosef’s interpretation of his dreams and suggestion that he appoint a savvy advisor to use this knowledge to prepare for the future, he said that there was no one more suited for the role than Yosef. Pharaoh then appointed Yosef viceroy over the entire land of Egypt, and to mark the occasion, he placed a gold chain on Yosef’s neck.
The Gemara (Moed Katan 27b) records that burying the dead used to be more painful for the surviving relatives than the person’s death, because it was customary to bury the dead in expensive shrouds that many people could not afford. The problem grew so severe that relatives often abandoned the corpse and ran away. To address this issue, Rabban Gamliel forsook his personal honor and left instructions that after his passing, he should be buried in cheap linen garments, a practice that became widely adopted and is codified in Shulchan Aruch (Yoreh Deah 352:1-2), which says that the custom is to use a white garment.
In addition to the financial considerations, the Yalkut Reuveni (Parshas Mikeitz) adds that the use of a white linen garment is also kabbalistically beneficial, as it transforms every prosecuting angel into a defender, but only if the garment is made of pure linen with no other materials mixed in. For this reason, when the Kohen Gadol entered the Kodesh Kodashim [Holy of Holies] on Yom Kippur, which was fraught with danger, he wore only white linen clothing to protect him.
Applying this idea to Parshas Mikeitz, the Yalkut Reuveni says Pharaoh discovered the mystical power of white linen clothing and donned it to shield himself from all the sorcery that took place in Egypt, and he used his immunity to bolster his claim that he was a deity. Yosef recognized the secret of Pharaoh’s wardrobe and adopted the practice for himself.
However, when Pharaoh promoted him to viceroy, he insisted that Yosef wear a gold chain to nullify the protection given by his pure white linen clothes. Yosef understood Pharaoh’s hidden intention in giving him the necklace, but he still wore it at official functions so that Pharaoh would not realize that he knew his secret. As soon as Yosef left Pharaoh’s sight, he immediately removed the chain to restore the kabbalistic power of his clothes.
More recently, Reb Yitzchok Aryeh Epstein lived in the town of Skidel in Belarus. Tragically, after the birth of a healthy girl, his next nine children all passed away. He traveled with his wife to meet Rav Mottel Slonimer, who blessed them that their next son would live a long life as long as they fulfilled three conditions: They could give him any name they liked but must call him “Zeidel,” he could not leave the house until he was six years old, and during that time he must only wear pure white linen clothing. The Rav’s blessing was fulfilled, as their next son Avrohom Yaakov, better known as Rav Zeidel Epstein, the Mashgiach of Yeshivas Torah Ohr in Yerusholayim, passed away in 2007 at the age of 99. (R’ Ozer Alport, Parsha Potpourri)
