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R. Meir said: Blue is similar to the colour of the sea which is similar to the colour of the heavens which is the colour of [God's] throne of Glory
Talmud Sotah 17a
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"One thread, two threads, red thread, blue thread." My apologies to Dr. Seuss.
When we say 'a thread runs through a book,' typically we mean an idea or motif can be found in it, but when I say, a thread runs through the Bible, I really mean 'thread.' Red threads are mentioned from Genesis to Chronicles. We first see a red thread in Genesis 38. Tamar is pregnant with twins, and to identify the firstborn, the midwife ties a crimson thread to the hand that emerges first, to signify "This one came out first." But, it turns out, that the baby withdraws his hand, and it is his brother who emerges first. The next time red threads are mentioned is in the list of materials used in the construction of the Tabernacle.
This week also has a red thread as part of the purification ritual for the 'leper.' (Most translations use the word 'leper,' and 'leprosy' but these terms are misleading, as the Torah is not referring to the disease known today as leprosy which is Hansen’s disease, a mildly infectious disease that is treatable with proper skin care and antibiotics. Scholars do not agree on its identification, but the Torah’s tzara’at was some sort of scaly skin condition.) "The priest shall order two live pure birds, cedar wood, crimson [threads], and hyssop to be brought form him who is to be purified" (Lev. 14:4). The rabbis tried to find homiletical meaning in the ingredients: cedar was a symbol of arrogance, hyssop a symbol of humility, etc. The colour red probably represents the purification and cleansing qualities of blood. Perhaps burning the [red] thread into [white] ash represents the idea expressed by Isaiah: "Although your sins be like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be like [white] wool" (Isa. 1:18). The poem of 'Eishet Chayil' also juxtaposes snow and scarlet, to protect them from the snow, the righteous woman dresses her family in scarlet clothing (Prov. 30:21). Next week we'll see the red thread again, tied to the horns of the goat sent to 'Azazel,' the 'scapegoat.'
Dyes in the ancient world were extremely expensive, as they required intensive labour. The colour red, translated as 'scarlet,' or 'crimson,' in Hebrew is usually referred to as 'shani' or more fully as 'tolaat shani.' (In Chronicles, the colour is referred to as karmil II Chron. 2:6,13). The word 'tola'at' means 'worm' or 'insect larva' and 'shani' refers to the dye (or the dyed material) obtained from the eggs of the female kermes or cochineal scale insects which attach themselves to the kermes oak (Quercus calliprinos), one of the three types of oak that grow in Israel. The word 'crimson' comes from kermes, although the colour produced was more of an orange-red. After several years of effort, in 2003 a lecturer at Bar Ilan University, Dr. Zohar Amar, successfully reproduced the scarlet dye. (As I mentioned two weeks ago in Parashat Shemini, the carmine dye used in maraschino cherries is similarly produced from a cochineal scale insect -- hence its non-kosher status.) The mistaken belief that it was a worm also gave rise to one other word for red, vermillion (Latin "worm-coloured", from vermiculus, the Latin term for the kermes). Vermilion, in Hebrew shashar, also appears two times in the Bible (Ezek. 23:14 and Jer. 22:14).
The red thread has been used in folk customs around the world and in the Bible we see its use in purification rituals, and during childbirth. The idea that a red thread is supposedly protection against the evil eye is based on a statement in the Tosefta (a commentary on the Talmud) that mentions tying a red string to ward off an "evil eye." However, tying a red string around oneself is severely prohibited, and is characterized as "darchei Emori," a worthless, superstitious practice, close to idol-worship. Recently, the red thread has become much more famous as it is worn by celebrities and this symbol of Kabbalah has now become a popular fashion statement. Although there is virtually no classical textual support for the custom, wearing a red thread has become quite popular in some circles, and is even available for purchase over the Internet and is being made into jewellery items. Some organizations even sell a string and book kit (available at your neighbourhood Target stores).
I find all this attention over the red thread amusing and somewhat ludicrous, because there is one other coloured thread in Torah that receives much less attention that has deep and clear significance. In Parashat Shlach we read of the mitzvah of tzitzit: to wear a blue thread on the corners of our garments (Numbers 15). This turquoise-blue was also derived from a non-kosher source: the Murex trunculus. Thousands of snails were required to make a single gram of permanent dye. A gland from the snail is processed, and when exposed to sunlight, turns blue. Like the mezzuzah, the tzitzit serve as a reminder of the mitzvot, and of allegiance and obedience to God. There were unscrupulous dyers who substituted the cheaper indigo dye (derived from plant sources), and the identity of the snail was forgotten. After the destruction of the Temple, and the authentic source of the blue dye was lost, Jews stopped wearing blue threads. The Radzyner Rebbe was convinced that the blue could be re-established, and used the ink of the squid, Sepia officinalis. Thousands of his followers adopted this 'tekhelet.' However, after many years of research, it was determined that this was not authentic. Recently, an organization called Ptil Tekhelet, has correctly identified the Murex trunculus, and re-established the industry of blue tzitzit. The expensive blue threads are popular mostly in the Jewish Renewal movement among 'new age' Jews, but tekhelet is slowly gaining in popularity, even in more traditional circles.
The haftarah chosen for Parshat Shlach when we read about tzitzit also makes a connection between red and blue threads. In the story of Joshua and Rahab, a red thread (or cord) is hung from the window of Rahab- as a signal to Joshua's men that her family was to be saved. Because of Rahab's occupation (I don't think she was an innkeeper, notwithstanding what you may have learned in Sunday School), the origin of the 'red light' district is actually traced to Rahab's red thread. The connection between prostitution and threads is further amplified by the verse, translated literally as, "And you shall look on [the blue threads] and remember and do all of God's mitzvot, and not whore after your hearts and eyes" (Num 15:39).
Lessons for Today
People flocking to buy red threads over blue threads are not making a fashion statement. I don't think 'blue' has gone out of fashion and 'red' is this year's black. The red thread is the easy way to spirituality. You don't have to do anything, you don't have to know anything. It's the quick fix. We all want what's good for us- the question is, how do we work for it? The other day I saw an advertisement on TV for a girdle-like contraption that makes the wearer 2-3" slimmer. That's what we want: to be slimmer, without going on a diet or losing weight. That's what wearing a red thread says. I want to have the benefits of spirituality (protection from the evil eye), but I don't want the discipline (of doing the mitzvot).
Red may be protection from the 'evil eye,' but blue, according to the Rabbis, is a reminder of the sky which is a reminder of God. Ultimately the blue is to 'remember to do God's mitzvot.' Wearing blue tzitzit means you're committed to doing mitzvot, (even in a different way than the average Orthodox white tzitzit wearer- since wearing blue challenges the status quo and will make you different from the rest of your peers - you're willing to question what you've been brought up with). While wearing a red thread says "I'm part of the 'in crowd', wearing blue threads says I'm prepared to live a life of discipline, of limits, and I'm committed to living according to my principles even when it's uncomfortable.
What will you wear this spring? Red or blue?
Shabbat Shalom
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