INSULAR V WORLDLY JUDAISM

Dear Family,

I hope everyone is well.

I saw an interesting dvar Torah from the book The Inside Story, based on the works of the Lubavitcher Rebbe from this week's sedra Vayigash.

The question raised is like this:

Yaakov finds out that Yosef is alive and is second-in-charge of the whole of Egypt and he has, and still is, keeping, and totally dedicated to, Torah.

And so Yaakov, who is now preparing to travel to Egypt, sends Yehuda ahead of him to set up a Yeshiva in Egypt.

But why Yehudah?

Would it not have been easier for Yosef to do this with his position and dedication?!

Answer:

Yaakovs children had a conflict of world-view, and were divided into 2 factions.

On the one side were 10 of the 12 brothers led by Yehuda, who lived as reclusive shepherds, with minimal interaction with society, lest this damage their spiritual lives. (this can still be seen today where there are groups of ulra-orthodox Jews living insular lives)

On the other side, and in contrast, Yosef was a fortuitous achiever in business and politics, who saw no contradiction to being the viceroy of Egypt, and retaining a state of perpetual connection with Hashem. His spiritual and moral integrity was unaffected by the immoral environment in which he lived.

Who was the victor? - Yosef.

Yosef already understood his victory from his dream, where his brothers and father were bowing down to him, prostrating their approach to his.

The first 3 generations of insular Judaism was coming to an end, as we were now entering our long exile (going down to Egypt), and was to be replaced with the challenge of living a spiritual life within the material world.

BUT NOW OUR QUESTION IS EVEN STRONGER! IF YOSEF'S APPROACH IS THE CORRECT ONE, YAAKOV SHOULD HAVE SENT YOSEF TO START THE YESHIVAH. SO WHY DID HE SEND YEHUDAH!?

The first 3 generations of Jewish life were not a false start.

They were a foundation of all that was to follow.

It was from this foundation that Yosef drew his strength to preserve his faith in an alien environment.

And that is why Yaakov chose Yehudah to establish the Yeshivah.

Yes, in our daily life we must be a Yosef, but our education must be provided by Yehudah!

Gut Shabbos to all.