Be a Leader (adapted from Rabbi Y. Y. Jacobson)
Joseph could not contain his tears and nor can we, as we read the Torah relate the brotherly reunion after 22 years of separation.
We are all quite familiar with the story: Joseph, the viceroy of Egypt, accuses his brother Benjamin of theft and claims him as his slave. But Judah comes forward and stands up for his younger brother Benjamin. “I took responsibility for the lad from my father”, Judah says. Judah then continues his monologue, explaining that he will not and cannot return to his father in Israel without Benjamin.
In Jewish tradition, the quality of royalty belongs primarily to the descendents of Judah. This quality is imbued in the very psychological and spiritual chemistry of Judah’s descendants, producing numerous leaders and kings - from the monarchs of the Davidic dynasty to Moshiach (Messiah) who will also be a descendant of David, the great-great-grandchild of Judah.
What did Judah do to deserve this?
Our Sages tell us that it was Judah’s declaration in this week’s portion, “Because I took responsibility for the lad,” that demonstrated that the gift of leadership belonged to this man’s soul.
You see, notwithstanding his unwavering promise to his father to bring back Benjamin, Judah could have returned without the lad with a book filled with great excuses. “There was no way we could have fought the viceroy of Egypt, the superpower of the world;” “I know I promised to being him back, but our dear brother decided to steal the silver majestic goblet … so what was I suppose to do?” Or, “G‑d apparently wanted Benjamin to remain there, after all the viceroy’s goblet did ‘miraculously’ end up in Benjamin’s bag;” Etc. Etc.
Had Judah come home with these excuses he would have been correct. There is little one can do to battle reality.
But Judah was a leader. He had it in his bones to take absolute and total responsibility for a situation and never pass the buck to others, not even to perceived “reality.” As a genuine leader Judah stood up and proclaimed: “Because your servant took responsibility for the lad!” Yes, I can find many ways to vindicate myself, but the job will not get done. This is not about me; my innocence or guilt, my merit or fault. It is accomplishing the mission: Benjamin must return to his father.
We live in a generation when many good excuses could have been given for our bleak demographics and assimilation. But the Lubavitcher Rebbe, a modern day Judah, stood up a few years after the horrors of Auschwitz and Treblinka and declared: ‘I take personal responsibility for the collective Jewish community and for every individual Jewish lad.’
For the following four decades this man, a biological scion of Judah, would not sleep nor allow anyone else to sleep. Single handedly he empowered thousands upon thousands to stop passing relieving their conscience by merely making a contribution to a noble cause. He inspired them to take personal responsibility for the welfare, continuity and eternity of the Jewish people. Do not allow “reality,” he always taught, to decide the future of the Jewish people. Take responsibility for the lad! Do not rest until every Jewish child the world over is given the opportunity to return to his ‘father Jacob in Israel’.
Each year, when I hear the words this Torah Portion read aloud from the Torah scroll, I can hear the Rebbe’s resounding message:
“You and I must take responsibility for the lad!” Do not lament, kvetch, sigh and write a check. Instead build communities, schools, and yeshivas. Give every Jewish child the gift of a Torah education and care about the other as though he or she was your own brother.
“You may have good excuses for your inaction,” he would always say, “and nobody will blame you.” But the bottom line is that after all of your rationalization, the child, Benjamin, will remain enslaved to Egypt and its culture.
In our times, often leaderless and aimless, we must make Judah’s call our own. Let us begin by one more mitzvah, inviting one more family to join us for Shabbat dinner, and calling one long lost friend to find out how they’re doing.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Raleigh Resnick
