Vayeishev 5786 – Joseph and the Amazing Tax-Deductible Dream Coat

The most controversial coat in human history plays center stage in this week’s Parsha. What was Yaakov thinking when he aroused the violent jealousy of the brothers against Yosef by gifting him a special coat?

The Radak says the coat was a natural showing of love from Yaakov to Yosef. He was his favourite son, and it showed. The Chizkuni on the other hand, says it was to appease Yosef who was having a rough time feeling left out of the brotherly clan. According to these explanations, the coat had nothing directly to do with the dreams and Yosef’s aspirations.

The Sfono explains that Yaakov was trying to insinuate something significantly more far reaching with the gift. The coat wasn’t your average Shaina Coat or Bekisha, it was a coat of royal design. It was the uniform of a future leader in training. Yaakov believed the dreams and wanted to give his helping hand in their fulfilment. The ill-fated judgment comes back to haunt Yaakov, as it is that exact coat which is brought to him as “evidence” of Yosef’s fate. The coat provides a striking symbolism of not just his son, but also his dynasty, the kingdom of Bnei Yisroel being ripped to pieces and covered in blood.

The exact usage of coats and clothes as deductible business expenses has been in the spotlight for long time. On the one hand, people do buy special clothes specifically for their line of work. A policeman, surgeon, fire fighter, professional swimmer most certainly have clothes which they buy specifically for their work and are for sure a legitimate expense.

On the other side of the spectrum, it goes without saying that you can’t turn up to work, even in Israel, not wearing any clothes at all. You have to wear something. So all clothes are a business expense?

The Israeli Tax Authorities lay down the boundary at anything you could wear out of work in a day to day setting is not deductible. An Israeli lawyer tried to claim his tie as a business expense. The court ruled that even though he never would, since he could wear a tie in normal settings it wasn’t allowed.

There hasn’t been a test case of a Rebbe claiming his Streimel is purely for work purposes, but according to this rule he’ll probably fall short.

So back to Yosef. According to Radak and Chizkuni, the coat was a gift and had nothing to do with any leadership role. It is definitely a private expense. According to the Sforno, it depends. If, as some say, the coat was multicolored, it would only be worn on special occasions and could not be socially acceptably worn to Mincha on a Tuesday. Therefore it could be claimed by Yaakov as a business expense for “Bnei Yisroel LLC”. If, as some say, it was a regal blue, meant to be worn the whole time and could be worn on ordinary occasions as well, then it’s not deductible.

For any Coat related or other financial issues you require assistance with please reach out at [email protected].

Good Shabbos.