Written by Rabbi Daniel Yaakov Travis
(based on a derasha from
HaGaon Rav Moshe Sternbuch shlita,
Ravad of Yerushalayim
Leil Shabbos)
Future Kings
Chazal tell us that Yaakov Avinu sent Yehudah ahead to Egypt to start a yeshiva. While Yehudah was certainly a charismatic and influential personality, wouldn’t Levi or Yisachar, who were totally immersed in Torah study, have been better candidates to start a yeshiva? Why did Yaakov choose Yehudah for this task?
Throughout Sefer Bershis Yehudah consistently takes on the leadership role. When the brothers wanted to kill Yosef, it was Yehudah who convinced them to do otherwise. He was the one who took responsibility to bring Binyamin back to Yaakov, and it was Yehudah who stood up to Yosef when he wanted to hold Binyamin captive.
Yehudah's leadership qualities were the source of his merit him to be the progenitor of malchus, kingship. He obviously had great vision and talent for organization, leadership and management – key qualities for any king or leader. While Levi and Yisachar were greater talmidei chachamim, in choosing Yehudah to open the first yeshiva in Mitzrayim, Yaakov meant to instill in his son an important message. All future kings and leaders of the Jewish people would need to internalize this lesson in order to guide the Jewish people properly.
Jewish leaders must shepherd Klal Yisrael in accordance with the Torah and with the guidance of the Gedolim who have mastered it. This was self-evident to Levi and Yisachar, who were completely immersed in Torah. Yaakov wanted to convey to Yehudah and all of his descendants that all matters of worldly governance regarding the Jewish people must be a reflection of our commitment to the Torah.
Opening and Closing
There is a famous story of how Rav Chaim of Volozhin opened up his yeshiva. When he initially went to his teacher, the Vilna Gaon, to ask his advice, the Gaon was quiet. Rav Chaim understood that the answer was no.
Some time later, Rav Chaim came back to the Gaon to ask his guidance again. This time the Gaon gave him a blessing that he should have much success with this endeavor. Rav Chaim wondered what had brought about this change in attitude.
The Gaon explained to Rav Chaim that while opening a yeshiva was certainly a worthy endeavor, he had noticed that Rav Chaim was initially very excited about his project and he had been concerned he was too emotionally involved. The second time Rav Chaim came back much calmer. Only then could the Gaon give his student a beracha for success in this holy project.
The Vilna Gaon later added a further reason for his change of heart: Perhaps one day, circumstances would make it necessary to close the yeshiva in order to avoid a negative outcome. If Rav Chaim started with a huge personal emotional investment in this project, he might not be clear-sighted and objective enough to close the yeshiva. Later on, when the Gaon saw that Rav Chaim was now composed and thinking clearly, he saw that he could deal properly with the complexities of running a yeshiva. The Gaon then willingly gave his talmid a blessing.
The Gaon’s foresight was right on target. After Rav Chaim had passed into the olam ha’emes, the situation foreseen by the Vilna Gaon came to pass. The Russian government ordered that secular studies be taught for an hour a day in the yeshiva, as part of a wider plan to “modernize” the education of young Jewish boys and wean them away from their devotion to Torah.
Well aware of the Tzar’s sinister plan, the Gedolim of that generation understood that the yeshiva had to be closed down rather than change the curriculum. Perhaps it was the clear-sighted, Torah-focused spirit that had been blessed by the Gaon at the yeshiva’s inception, that gave the last Rosh Yeshiva of Volozhin the courage and wisdom to follow da’as Torah, though it was heart-breaking for him and his students.
Whether a decision involves opening a yeshiva, closing a yeshiva, or any other matter of importance, one thing is clear: all decisions guiding the future of Klal Yisrael must be based on the Torah. This was Yaakov’s deeper message to Yehudah when he sent him down to Mitzrayim to open a yeshiva.
His Ways are Just
Chazal tell us that at the moment that Yaakov Avinu was reunited with Yosef after decades of separation, he recited Shema. After so many years apart from his most beloved son, one would think that even Yaakov Avinu would have displayed more emotion. What was behind his controlled response?
Once again, Yaakov was teaching us the proper outlook on life. Throughout Yaakov's life, he experienced hardship after hardship. From his perspective, it seemed as if he was being punished harshly in this world.
When Yaakov Avinu saw that Yosef was still alive, he recognized the justness of the Divine ways. While he was suffering, the Almighty was paving the way to save the world from starvation. At this auspicious moment he recited Shema, admitting that His ways were completely just.
Guard Your Tongue
It seems that every politician must learn the art of diplomatically destroying their opponents. When it comes to criticizing, mocking and defaming the opposition, nothing is out of bounds – and all in the name of freedom of speech. As long as one does not infringe on someone else's rights, a politician can say what he wants.
The Torah does not grant us freedom of speech. The laws of lashon hara are complex, and one only has the right to speak within those parameters. A person must go to great lengths to avoid slandering someone else.
When Yaakov and his brothers came down to Mitzrayim, Yosef Hatzadik found himself in a bind. It was only a matter of time before his father would ask him how he ended up in Egypt. How could he avoid speaking lashon hara about his brothers?
The Medrash reveals an astonishing fact. For the 17 years that Yaakov lived in Mitzrayim, his son Yosef was never alone with him until right before his death. Yosef went to unbelievable lengths to avoid a situation where he might say lashon hara about his brothers. Yosef Hatzadik took the laws of the Torah to heart, and applied them in all areas of his life, despite the hardship and pain involved in avoiding his beloved father.
Both Yosef and Yehudah were outstanding leaders who had a held a lot of worldly power in their hands. And yet they never descended from the Torah way.
While we are not expected to live up to the almost superhuman standards of the Avos and their children the shevatim, we should also let the Torah guides us in all areas of life. Even the political arena should be conducted solely according to the Torah's will. Though the whole world might think that presidents and prime ministers are running the show, we must always stay focused on the true nature of reality: the Almighty alone is guiding our destiny and the Torah is his blueprint. When we remain firm in our Torah outlook, we perpetuate the lesson that our father Yaakov taught to his sons, Yehudah and Yosef.
(HaRav Shternbuch's shiurim on the parsha are being prepared to be published as a sefer. For information about dedication opportunities contact dytravis@actcom.com.)
