Moshiach's Color

Moshiach in the Tanach is referred to sometimes as a leper. About leprosy the Torah says (Lev. 13:2): "When a person has on his flesh…." The word for "person" is Adam. The Arizal explains that Adam is the most lofty label for a person and refers to an all-inclusive soul. Even Moses is generally referred to in the Torah as Ish (man), this has a more individual connotation. If Moses is an Ish, the Arizal concludes, then the only candidate for the higher title Adam is Moshiach, the quintessential all-inclusive soul. But why is he a leper?

Tzara'at ("leprosy") is a skin condition that turns the affected area pure white. The numerical value of Moshiach is 358, equals to the value of lavan "white". White includes all the colors of the spectrum and Moshiach with his leprous skin includes all the 4 skin colors: white, red, yellow and black. They correspond to the four letters of God's Name and to their powers of the soul.
People of each skin color have their own traits with which to serve God.

• White skin Service of God with the faculty of Chochmah "wisdom". It's the Male principle, called "Father" in the intellect. Corresponding to the world of Emanation, it is the innovative and unpredictable force that produces spontaneous insights. The inner essence of Chochmah is self-nullification. Its essence is a negation of one's "self" in total nullification to God. When one's mind is not preoccupied with ego, it is clear and open to become a conduit of Divine wisdom. The special talent of people with white skin is to serve God by nullifying their ego and connecting to the Divine. They are predisposed toward new and innovative Torah insights, which can be nurtured to maturity through the companion power of Chochmah -- Binah.
• Red Skin Service of God with the Faculty of Understanding - Binah, which is the female principle, called Imma, "Mother" in the intellect. Corresponding to the world of Creation, Binah is the cognitive force that absorbs the nuclear "seed" of Chochmah and articulates it into fine detail. Having attained the mature understanding of Binah, the soul swells with delight at its achievement. The inner essence of Binah is simcha, "joy." It is the essential response of the soul to accomplishment.
  The special talent of people with red skin is to serve God with joy; particularly joy that stems from having nurtured the insights of Chochmah into full and mature understanding.
• Yellow Skin: Service of God with the attributes of the heart.
  The emotional attributes are called Ze'er Anpin, "Son," and correspond to the world of Formation. The full complement of character attributes, lovingkindness, might, beauty, victory, splendor, and foundation, consists of both the emotions of the heart and one's subsequent behavior. The inner powers of these attributes are love, awe, beauty, confidence, sincerity and truth. The special talent of people with yellow skin is to serve God with the full array of their emotions and actions in a perfected and rectified manner.
• Black Skin Service of God with the Faculty of kingdom Malchut, "kingdom," is called Nukva, "Daughter." Corresponding to the world of Action, malchut is the ground into which the full creative force of "foundation" is implanted, transforming it to fuel for the perfection of reality. The inner essence of Malchut is shiflut, "lowliness." This quality guarantees that one's actions in life are motivated by the highest standards of justice and righteousness, unconcerned with personal gain or advantage.
  
  The special talent of people with black skin is their exceptional sense of holy service of God, with no thought of personal benefit.
  

All in the Family

Moshiach will unite the Jewish people as one family whose every action will be inspired by the Torah. They will then have the tools with which to unite the entire world to serve God as one family.
One of the main strains of leprosy is called sapachat, "annexation." Moshiach will first annex to the Jewish family all Jewish souls, no matter how far they have strayed from their source. The apex of his labor will be when all the peoples of the world -- each with their unique talents and qualities -- are annexed to the family of servants of the One God of Israel.

Color	Attribute	Letter of Havayah	World	Talent	Soul Powers
White	Wisdom	י	Emanation (Atzilut)	ego nullufication	Wisdom (chochmah)
Red	Understanding	ה	Creation (Beri'ah)	To serve God with joy	Understanding (binah)
Yellow	Emotions	ו	Formation (Yetzirah)	Serving God with emotions and actions	Loving-kindness via foundation (chesed - yesod)
Black	Kingship	ה	Action (Asiyah)	Holy service of God with no thought of personal gain	Kingship (malchut)

(Based on a lecture given by Harav Ginsburgh in Jericho on the 28th of Nissan, 5764)