A Thought On Parshas VaYechi
A Thought On Parshas VaYechi
"...Yehuda ata yoducha achecha..."
"...Yehuda, to you shall your brothers submit..." (49:8)
As Yakov our Patriarch bestows his visions and blessings regarding each of his sons, he declares that the brothers will acknowledge Yehuda with praise and with submissiveness. The Torah does not indicate which event, or which quality associated with Yehuda would have garnered the collective allegiance of the other tribes.
Rabbeinu Chaim Paltiel cites a midrashic interpretation (his source is unknown to us): the tribes of Israel, with the passage of time, learned to accept the error of having plotted against their brother Yosef years before. Ultimately, they recognized that it was the intervention of Yehuda that saved Yosef from certain death. One can only marvel at the merit which Yehuda earned in the World to Come for having saved his brother's life.
But there was more to come! Yakov envisioned a time in history when the Jewish people would recognize the vital importance of Jews reaching out to other Jews. They would see that the survival of our nation can hinge on our being there for each other. The archetype of the Jew engaging in hatzalos nefashos was the example forged by Yehuda.
Yakov declared that in centuries to come, it would be that mechanism which distinguished the Jews from other nations. Our people integrated the Yehuda dynamic, and in that sense, "the brothers submitted to Yehuda." They became like him. They adopted his dynamic. This was a reward or gift to Yehuda which was manifest in this world. This is the true reason, says Rabbeinu Chaim Paltiel, that Jews around the world are called Yehudim - Jews. Our very name "Jew" or Yehudi proclaims our awe for the mighty deed of Yehuda.
The defining quality of a Jewish life is dedication to klal Yisroel. When we are moser nefesh for one another, we are Jews. We are leading our lives like Yehudim.
I am off to Jerusalem b'H and hope to keep these parsha thoughts coming. Good Shabbos. D Fox
"...Yehuda ata yoducha achecha..."
"...Yehuda, to you shall your brothers submit..." (49:8)
As Yakov our Patriarch bestows his visions and blessings regarding each of his sons, he declares that the brothers will acknowledge Yehuda with praise and with submissiveness. The Torah does not indicate which event, or which quality associated with Yehuda would have garnered the collective allegiance of the other tribes.
Rabbeinu Chaim Paltiel cites a midrashic interpretation (his source is unknown to us): the tribes of Israel, with the passage of time, learned to accept the error of having plotted against their brother Yosef years before. Ultimately, they recognized that it was the intervention of Yehuda that saved Yosef from certain death. One can only marvel at the merit which Yehuda earned in the World to Come for having saved his brother's life.
But there was more to come! Yakov envisioned a time in history when the Jewish people would recognize the vital importance of Jews reaching out to other Jews. They would see that the survival of our nation can hinge on our being there for each other. The archetype of the Jew engaging in hatzalos nefashos was the example forged by Yehuda.
Yakov declared that in centuries to come, it would be that mechanism which distinguished the Jews from other nations. Our people integrated the Yehuda dynamic, and in that sense, "the brothers submitted to Yehuda." They became like him. They adopted his dynamic. This was a reward or gift to Yehuda which was manifest in this world. This is the true reason, says Rabbeinu Chaim Paltiel, that Jews around the world are called Yehudim - Jews. Our very name "Jew" or Yehudi proclaims our awe for the mighty deed of Yehuda.
The defining quality of a Jewish life is dedication to klal Yisroel. When we are moser nefesh for one another, we are Jews. We are leading our lives like Yehudim.
I am off to Jerusalem b'H and hope to keep these parsha thoughts coming. Good Shabbos. D Fox
posted by Rabbi Dr. Fox at 7:47 PM
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