Perhaps one of the greatest keys to Jewish survival throughout its long history has been an unbridled optimism, a strong belief in the future and a refusal to give up. Even at times of great challenge, Jews have continued to maintain this belief in the future. While there are many examples of this, perhaps one of the best examples of this special trait was during the Holocaust. As Jews marched towards their certain deaths, they recited the Ani Maamin that expressed their belief in the coming of the Messiah and the ultimate redemption of the world.

When one considers Jewish history, it seems strange as to why Judah, out of all of his brothers, was given the blessing of royalty (see B'reishit 49:10 "The Scepter shall not depart from Judah…). Usually it is the first born who is given these privileges. Commentators offer several theories as to Judah's ascendancy. Many of the theories arise from this week's parsha, Parshat VaYigash. One of my favorite commentaries is the Mei HaShiloach of Rabbi Mordechai Yosef of Isbitza who lived from 1800-1854. Judah is special because he personifies this unique Jewish quality of never giving up. This is an inherent component of Judah's personality as indicated by Jacob in the blessing given to Judah in Chapter 49 ("he [Judah] crouches; lies down like a lion"). Judah seems like he has given up because he is in a lowly position. Immediately, however, the verse continues "and like an awesome lion, who dares arouse him?" A lion does not stay in a lowly position for long. He does not give up so easily. Judah exhibits this resolve in our parsha. At the end of last week's parsha, after Binyamin is accused of thievery, Judah says to Joseph: "We are ready to be slaves to my lord, both we and the one in whose hand the goblet was found." Here, Judah appears submissive and as if he had given up.

 

Immediately at the beginning of VaYigash, Judah summons his strength and approaches Joseph with new-found strength and compels Joseph to become submissive and back down. According to R' Mordechai Yosef, this answers the question that many commentators ask. What new information does Judah state in his speech at the beginning of VaYigash that he has not already stated previously? The lesson is that, even though Judah does not add any new factual information, he does, by approaching Joseph, summon his strength and refuses to give up.

The lesson from this commentary is clear. In order to be the leader of the Jewish people zthe king z one must epitomize these critical characteristics of being an optimist and a refusal to ever give up.

The Mei HaShiloach continues by pointing out that it is interesting to note that Judah and his brothers believed that they were arguing with a foreign ruler and that their fate was in his hands. Later, when Joseph revealed himself to them, the brothers realized that they had never really been in any danger as the argument had been with their brother. So, too, for the Jewish people in the future. When G-d will redeem us from our long and bitter exile, we will realize that, at least in a spiritual state, we were never really in exile and that no one ever ruled over us except for HaShem. This is how we are to understand the verse in Psalms (37:10): "Just a little longer and there will be no more wicked one: you will contemplate his place and he will not be there." When the wicked one will depart from the land, we will realize that, even during the exile, we were not really under his control.

This idea should provide the Jewish people, who have indeed suffered from a long and bitter exile, with some much-needed solace and consolation and even optimism. Perhaps it does not make the exile any easier to bear, but it does demonstrate that G-d has a plan for us. Even though it may appear that others are controlling us, in reality it is G-d who has control over the Jewish people. It points to an end to the exile when this realization will become clear to all.
It is not only Judah, therefore, that should have this optimism, but it is all his descendants. We are all known as Jews as we are descendants of Judah. Judah as our leader has taught us how we are not only to survive, but to lead.

Shabbat Shalom.