The 12 Tribes of Israel Collection
Joseph from the 12 Tribes of Israel
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Joseph - The Sufferer“May G-d grant me another son.” (Gen. 30:24)
Joseph was Rachel’s first child, born after many years of waiting. The name Joseph indicates adding, embracing and gathering. This painting shows us Joseph's tomb, the centre of which is a gaping black hole. And yet, the area is surrounded by golden sheaves of wheat, representing Joseph as the sustainer and resilient leader of his family and of his nation. The dark cavity of the tomb and the path are illuminated by the nourishing, golden wheat, symbols of our strength to transform pain into spiritual growth and light. In the background are two mountains, Mt. Gerizim and Mt. Evel: Gerizim, which is lush and green, was the mountain of blessings; Evel, which is barren, is the mountain of curses. Seen side by side, they ask the viewer to think about suffering and flourishing, and to look to the righteous Joseph for an example of the transformation that we are capable of.
The darkness that pulls us into the centre of this painting reflects the tribe of Joseph's gemstone onyx. |
Detailed Explanation
- Essential Quality - Adding, Embracing, Gathering
- Birth Mother - Rachel
- Birth Order - Eleventh
- Mother's Naming - G-d remembered Rachel; G-d hearkened to hear and He opened her womb. She conceived and bore a son, and said, "G-d has taken away my disgrace." So she called his name Joseph, saying, "May Hashem add on for me another son." (Genesis, 30:22-24)
- Landscape - Joseph's tomb in the eastern valley that separates Mount Gerixim and Mount Eval on the outskirts of the West Bank city of Nablus.
- Gemstone - Onyx
- Father (Jacob) Blessing - "A charming son is Joseph, a charming son to the eye; each of the daughter's climbed heights to gaze. They embittered him and became antagonists; the arrow-tongued men hated him. But his bow was firmly emplaced and his arms were gilded, from the hands of the Mighty Power of Jacob - from there, he shepherded the stone of Israel. [That was] from the G-d of your father and He will help you, and with Shaddai - and He will bless you [with] blessings of the bosom and womb. The blessings of your father surpassed the blessings of my parents to the endless bounds of the world's hills. Let them be upon Joseph's head and upon the head of the exile from his brothers." (Genesis, 49:22-26)
- Kabbalah - Joseph is the element of suffering in life. Yet, he not only survives; he thrives. He achieves greatness through his challenges. He overcomes all adversaries and becomes a great leader, saving his entire generation. Despite his corrupt environment, he maintains his spiritual integrity. The powerful light that emerges from darkness in Joseph divides into two dimensions – his two sons: Menasheh and Ephraim: (Jacobson, Simon from Twelve Tribes - Twelve Paths)