The Meaning of the Colors of the Sefirot

According to mystical teachings, the initial pure light from which all creation was made is the Sefirah of Keter, encompassing all the sefirot. Its color is radiant white light. From it, all the sefirot are derived, each represented by a different color. In his book "Pardes Rimonim"[1] the Ramak elaborated on the color representing each of the ten sefirot, explaining that the intention is not that they literally have tangible colors, but that the colors represent the actions of these sefirot. However, there is certainly a spiritual root to each color in this world, stemming from the sefirot that cause it to act as it does. Here is a little of his words:

"Very often, one finds in the writings of the kabbalists and in the Zohar, attribution of specific [certain] colors to each individual sefirah. A scholar must be cautious and should not think that these things are to be taken literally, Heaven forbid, since a color is a tangible thing [perceived in physical form], and it is one of the attributes and incidents of the physical. Being non-physical, it is not appropriate to describe what is not physical with the incidents of the physical, Heaven forbid. One who thinks that these colors are as simple as the statements suggest is destructive to the world and is giving physical form to what is not Heaven forbid. Therefore, a scholar must be cautious in this regard.

And the intended in the colors [and the correct understanding of the colors in the sefirot] is that it is a metaphor for the actions derived from the supernal roots. As an example, the victorious warrior in battle should be related to the red. Since it is his way to shed red blood, and also the red - indicates [signifies] cruelty, rage, and stormy wrath. And this is explained. Therefore, the place of strong judgment, we attribute it to redness. Moreover, there is no doubt that red things [in the natural world] are derived from the power of that root, as we explained in the Gate of Essence and Conduct.

Likewise, white indicates mercy and peace. And it is typical for those with white hair, like the elderly and those with grey hair, who tend not to go to war. And therefore, when we want to attribute peace, kindness, and mercy, we attribute it to whiteness. There is no doubt that white things [in the natural world] derive from the power of that root, as we explained in the aforementioned gate.

And there is no doubt that colors have an influence on the actions of the sefirot and the drawing down of their abundance. For this reason, when one needs to draw [a person seeking to bring down to the world] an abundance of mercy from Chesed, he will visualize before him the name of the sefirah [visualize in his thought the name of the Sefirat Chesed in the necessary color[2] according to the hue of the measure. If pure Chesed - complete whiteness. And if not so much, he will imagine whiteness like the lime of the palace] and similarly, as we will explain in the Gate of Intention. And so when he wants to perform an action and needs to draw justice, then the person will clothe himself in red garments, and will visualize [in his thought] the Tetragrammaton in redness, and so for all actions and drawing; when Chesed and mercy are needed, he will wrap in whites.

We have clear evidence of this from the priests whose drawing is from Chesed, and their garments are white, to indicate peace. This is the matter of the High Priest on Yom Kippur, who would remove his gold garments and wear white because the service of the day is in white garments.

...And the faithful proof [and proof of this], the breastplate stones [that were on the heart of the High Priest during his service in the Temple], which are 12 stones [each of a different color], are related to the drawing of the 12 tribes of Israel from a high place [each stone was chosen according to its color, according to the spiritual root of each tribe].[3]

This is the reason for whitening the tongue of scarlet [a red wool string, which miraculously changed in the Temple to white, signifying the expiation of the sins of Israel] on Yom Kippur. For when the judgment at the upper root is nullified, the lower branches are nullified. And just as the source that primarily holds the redness changed from judgment to mercy, so the lower branch changed from red to white."

Ramakh also wrote in "Pardes Rimonim"[4] that white is the color of the angel Michael, who is in charge of the line of Chesed. And the red color is the color of the angel Gabriel, who is in charge of the line of Gevurah.[5]