Rabbi Frand on Parshas Vayigash
These divrei Torah were adapted from the hashkafa portion of Rabbi Yissocher
Frand's Commuter Chavrusah Tapes on the weekly portion: Tape # 398 - K'rias
Shma: How Early, Interruptions, and Other Issues. Good Shabbos!
Kingship Equals Responsibility
The parsha begins with Yehudah's plea to Yosef, in which Yehudah said, "For
you are like Pharoah" [Bereshis 44:18]. The Medrash comments that at this
moment, "the kings joined in battle". It was a clash of titans: Yehudah and
Yosef. We understand why the Medrash considers Yosef a king. After all, he
was the de facto ruler of the land of Egypt. But in what sense was Yehudah
considered a king?
It is true that later on, in Parshas Vayechi, Yaakov designates Yehudah as
the tribe of kingship. But at this point in time, nothing has really
transpired that would make Yehudah into the king. Why then does the Medrash
refer to him as a king?
Perhaps the answer is that the king is ultimately the person who is
responsible for the decisions and destiny of his nation. The bottom line is
that responsibility resides with the leader of a nation. He must decide when
to send the nation into war and when to sue for peace. Kingship equals
responsibility.
When Yehudah came forth and committed to his father Yaakov, "I will be
responsible for him (Binyamin), from my hand you may seek him..." [43:9], he
became the king. At the point in time when he put his life on the line, by
personally guaranteeing his brother's safety, there was a metamorphosis. He
changed from being just another brother to being the king.
This explains another difficulty. Only two pasukim [verses] earlier, at the
end of Parshas Miketz, when it was thought that Binyamin was 'guilty',
Yehudah seemed to act quite differently. He acted meekly, prostrated himself
in front of Yosef, confessed to the brother's guilt, and offered himself and
all his other brothers into slavery. Suddenly, two pasukim later, Yehudah
spoke with confidence and even arrogance towards Yosef [See Rashi Bereshis
44:18].
What suddenly happened to Yehudah? Only two pasukim earlier, he was this
weak little fellow, begging to be Pharoah's slave. Now he is suddenly on
the attack. He is aggressive and assertive, standing up for what is right.
What suddenly happened to gentle, mild mannered, and servile Yehudah?
Rav Yosef Leb Bloch explains that Yehudah had remembered his acceptance of
responsibility. Once he remembered the commitment of "I will be his
guarantor," he underwent a metamorphosis. He could no longer play the role
of the weak, gentle, and servile brother. "I'm in charge. The buck stops
here. It is my responsibility." Yehudah experienced a personality change. He
was now a different person. "I accepted responsibility and I must do what I
must do to live up to that responsibility."
We see this many times. The fact that a person accepts responsibility
changes him. "Some people are born great; some people achieve greatness; and
some people have greatness thrust upon them." [Winston Churchill]. Yehudah
had greatness thrust upon him and he rose to the challenge.
How Far Have We Drifted From The Way of Truth
Pharoah instructed Yosef to bring his father and family down to Egypt. "Do
this: Take for yourselves from the land of Egypt, wagons for your small
children and for your wives; transport your father (u'nesasem es avichem)
and come." [45:19]. The Daas Zekeinim m'Baale HaTosfos infers that the
wagons were only provided for the purpose of transporting the women and
children. However the brothers were supposed to carry their father on their
shoulders. Why? This is part of honoring one's father (Kibud Av).
But who was talking here and who was showing concern for the laws of Kibud
Av? It is Pharoah. Pharoah was instructing Yosef in proper manners (derech
eretz) towards one's father!
Rav Gifter comments "how far have we gone from that which seemed obvious".
In those days, it was even self-evident to Pharoah that this is how one
should treat a father. To us, this is not merely a novelty -- it is
something that we would not even dream of doing! And yet, Pharoah held it to
be self-evident that one treats his father with far greater reverence than
one gives to one's wife and children. Pharoah did not consider it proper for
Yosef's brothers to merely provide a wagon ride for their father.
Our values and way of living have drifted so far from the self-evident
truths of Biblical times that this seems foreign to us. Rabbi Wein points
out that the Public School in Chicago (built circa 1920) where he was a
student had two entrances -- one for boys and one for girls. The purpose
of each entrance was engraved in stone over the doorways. The need for
separate entrances was obvious back then. Even though it was a
co-educational institution, everybody knew that there had to be separation
of the sexes. Sixty, seventy, and eighty years ago, it was even
understood in a public school that there need be certain guidelines of
propriety and of tznius [modesty/privacy]. Today, you might find separate
entrances for the men and women in some religious congregations. Anywhere
else, the concept is totally foreign.
How far have we drifted from the ideas of truth! Concepts that were self-
evident in previous generations are novel ideas today. We must learn from a
Pharoah the proper way to treat a father. Today, it is something that we
barely aspire to fulfill. But that nevertheless is the way of truth.
This write-up was adapted from the hashkafa portion of Rabbi Yissocher
Frand's Commuter Chavrusah Torah Tape series on the weekly Torah portion.
The complete list of halachic topics covered in this series for Parshas
Vayigash are provided below:
Also Available: Mesorah / Artscroll has published a collection
of Rabbi Frand's essays. The book is entitled:
