Dvar Torah for Parshat VaYechi

Based on Likutey MoHaran I, Lesson #34

The concept of malkhut (kingship, authority) is alluded to twice in this week's ... The first allusion is Yaakov Avinu (our patriarch) bowing to his son Yosef HaTzadik (the saint), the viceroy of Egypt. The second allusion comes when Yaakov Avinu, on his deathbed, blesses his children. When he blessed Yehudah (Judah) Yaakov Avinu told his children that Yehudah's offspring would be the kings and rulers over the Jewish people, in Israel and in exile. (See Targum and Rashi on Genesis 49:9-10.) What strength did Yehudah and Yosef HaTzadik have that Yaakov Avinu acknowledged? Each had a strength of tzidkut (righteousness).

From the very first time we are introduced to Yosef HaTzadik we see that he is aware of his ability and responsibility to help others. Knowing the nature of his evil uncle Esav and the attractiveness of his mother Rachel, he stands in front of her to protect her (Genesis 33:7; see Rashi). When he relates his dreams to his brothers (ibid. 37:6-7, 9) he wasn't bragging. He was telling them the truth: You need me. When Yosef HaTzadik told Pharaoh's officers that he had the ability to interpret their dreams (ibid. 40:8) he didn't boast. He merely told them the truth: God gave me the talent, therefore I can help you. He told Pharaoh the same thing (ibid. 41:16).

Even the teenage Yosef HaTzadik was aware of his responsibility to God and to his human master (ibid. 39:8-9). Therefore, he remained strong and did not submit (ibid. vv.10, 12). Yosef HaTzadik's strength was his humility and self-control. He was a perfect tzadik, a tzadik that didn't make mistakes.

Yehudah's strength was the strength of a tzadik that made a mistake. Yehudah, despite being the fourth son, was the brothers' leader. It was he convinced them not to kill Yosef HaTzadik (ibid. 37:26). It was he took the responsibility to bring Binyamin home (ibid. 43:9). It was he challenged the Egyptian viceroy when the latter wanted to keep Binyamin as a slave (ibid. 44:18). Yet it was neither this quality nor these incidents that earned Yehudah royalty. It was a different sort of strength.

The Torah tells us that Yehudah, the son of Yaakov Avinu, propositioned a woman for her services (ibid. 38:15-16)! Unthinkable, unimaginable, but true (see Or HaChaim on 49:9 why this misdeed had to take place). Despite his breach and his fear of a scandal if the harlot made the affair public (38:23), when his own daughter-in-law, Tamar, was tried for prostitution and found guilty, Yehudah, the chief justice, sentenced her to death (v. 24). Tamar then provided the court with evidence of her "crime," Yehudah's ring and cloak, saying that they belonged to her client, but without mentioning his name. What did Yehudah do? He publicly admitted he was wrong!

Many times the obstacle to teshuvah (repentance) is not giving up a desire. It is admitting to oneself or to others: I have lived a lie. All that I, the Great Me, claimed to be true"how to live, how to view life, how to behave"was wrong. There was and is a truth that I was unaware of, would not acknowledge and could not live up to. This is the strength of a baal teshuvah (penitent).

Because Yehudah (Judah) acknowledged his mistake his brothers acknowledged that he deserved to be king. Because Yehudah acknowledged his mistake we are called "Jews." We, too, have the ability to humble ourselves, admit our mistakes and continue building our Jewishness.

CHAZAK CHAZAK V'NITCHAZEIK!

agutn Shabbos!
Shabbat Shalom!