by Rav Moshe Leib HaCohen Halbershtadt, Founder and Director of YORU Jewish Leadership, yeshiva.org.il, translated by Hillel Fendel.
In this week's Torah portion of Vayigash (B'reshit 44,18-47,27), we read of the dramatic reunion between our Patriarch Yaakov and his long-lost-son-turned-viceroy Yosef. One of Yaakov's chief concerns when he moved his family down to Egypt was to ensure that they remain loyal to G-d and their faith.
"Regarding Yehuda, Yaakov sent him to Egypt ahead of the family to point the way…" (46,28)
The Medrash Rabba on B'reshit (95,3) teaches that Yaakov sent Yehuda to establish a Yeshiva there. Why was it so important for Yaakov to do this? Couldn't they all have just gone to Egypt together, and then set themselves up once they got there, both materially and spiritually, with homes, fields, a house for prayer, and a Yeshiva? What was the rush?
When Yaakov first set off for Egypt, we see that he was worried – as G-d told him: "Yaakov, Yaakov: I am the E-l, the G-d of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for it is there that I will make you into a great nation. I will descend to Egypt with you, and I will also bring you back again" (46,2-4).
The Medrash Yalkut Shimoni explains Yaakov's fears and thoughts: "Here I go, leaving the land of my Forefathers, the land of G-d's Divine Presence, going to a land of impurity, to live among the uncircumcised where there is no fear of G-d?!"
Whereupon, G-d said to him, "Yaakov, do not fear – I will go with you!"
Yaakov was very apprehensive that the move to Egypt, and the close proximity to Egyptian culture, would lead to a deterioration in the spiritual state of his children. This could endanger the entire future of Am Yisrael! His descendants might come under the influence of the pagan Egyptian society and be cut off from the Torah of Avraham and Yitzchak! He therefore made sure to establish a Beit Talmud, a house of study, even before the family gets there. It was to be the source for the preservation of the embers, the oven that would maintain the warmth of Judaism and protect his descendants from the spiritual coldness of Egypt. It would be a Yeshiva where Torah will be taught and studied, and set a precedent of Torah study and love of G-d for future generations.
Every Jewish Community Needs a Yeshiva!
As with almost everything that the Torah recounts about our Patriarchs, "the deeds of the Fathers are a sign for the Sons." We learn here that the basis of every Jewish community is a Torah school, whether it be a Yeshiva, Mesivta, day school, kollel, or other. There must be a place where Torah is taught and studied, guaranteeing the future of Am Yisrael everywhere and forever. Every place has its own distinguishing characteristics, but the basis and the objective remain the same in each of them.
The renowned Chafetz Chaim (d. 1933) wrote much about the importance of Yeshivot and Torah study, such as in his work Etz Pri: "Although Torah study is simply the fulfillment of a positive Torah commandment - even the study of the laws of purity and the sacrifices [which are not relevant today when the Beit Mikdash is in ruins] - still, a person's primary area of study must be that which will lead to proper practice and observance of Jewish Law."
The Chafetz Chaim, together with other Torah giants of his generation, exerted great efforts to support Kollels, where budding Torah scholars and rabbis could learn all day, unencumbered by worried of supporting their families. The goal, of course, was to create the necessary conditions that would raise a generation of Torah teachers and Halakhic decisors who would teach their communities correct law and practice.
Public Speaking
Interestingly, the Chafetz Chaim would always encourage his students to learn the art of public speaking. He said that this would be an important and effective way to have influence and make a difference. To this end, he also encouraged them to find Torah sources to help solve problems: "One must primarily acquire expertise in Tanakh (Bible) and Medrash, and to study every problem and find its solution in the Torah or the Rabbinic writings."
He also had this interesting tip: "Speak only about one topic at a time. When you succeed in expressing a good idea, no matter how correct it is – be careful not to ruin it by adding another idea that is related…"
Fire in Russia
Another great disseminator of Torah who founded many Yeshivot throughout Europe was the Alter of Novardok, Rabbe Yosef Horowitz. He once sent four young yeshiva students all the way out to Siberia to found a Torah academy. When asked how he could endanger the spiritual future of the four students in this manner, he answered: "When one takes burning iron to a cold place, the iron indeed cools down – but the fire not only keeps on burning, it gives heat to others. These boys are the fire itself – for the fire of Torah and fear of G-d burns within them – and they will yet give warmth to many others."
[This article in the original Hebrew further expounds fascinatingly on the importance of Yeshivot, with interesting anecdotes and teachings. To read it, send a request to yoruleadership@gmail.com]
Yehuda Challenges Yosef
Parashat Vayigash begins with Yehuda's dramatic and fearless challenge to Yosef, who had just told the brothers that he plans to keep their youngest brother as a slave. According to the Medrash, Yehuda even threatened to kill Yosef if he would not release Binyamin. How can this be, given that just a few verses before, at the end of Parashat Miketz, Yehuda had been very meek, accepting guilt upon himself and offering himself and all his brothers as slaves in exchange for apparently having "stolen" Yosef's precious silver goblet?
My father used to answer, based on the Ohr HaChaim, as follows: Yehuda had until now been under the impression that all of his and his brothers' suffering was due to their sin of having sold Yosef as a slave. He therefore concluded that there was nothing to do about it; G-d was punishing them, period. But once Yehuda saw that Yosef was zeroing in only on Binyamin – who had nothing to do with the sale! – he realized that this was not a Divine punishment, but rather an arbitrary choice by the Egyptians to harass them, in which case it was incumbent upon Yehuda to stand and fight with them!
[Translator's note: Perhaps this message is particularly relevant today. Some originally may have thought that the intensifying anti-Semitism around the world was rooted in a reaction to perceived injustice in Gaza. Now, however, it is patently clear that the violence and attacks are actually pure hatred and anti-Semitism for its own sake, and it must therefore be fought, as Yehuda threatened, with Jewish pride and strength.]
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