Скачать или смотреть Act based on your reality - Yehuda vs Yosef

Everything in the Torah directly connects and teaches something about our personal inner work. Especially in the final moments of Golus these lessons carry some extra spice.

Yehuda comes close to Yosef in an attempt to convince him to free their youngest brother, Binyamin from Egyptian prison. Yehuda knew the stakes were high and gave it all he had to reunite Yaakov with his youngest son (the only thing he had left of his beloved wife, Rochel). The Haftorah connected with this dramatic Parsha is of the prophecy that when Moshiach comes the Kingdoms of Yosef and Yehuda will be joined once again under the unified banner of the kingship of the house of David forever to come.

The content doesn't seem to align here. While in the Parsha Yehuda is on his knees begging for mercy from Yosef (the then leader of the entire inhabited world) the prophecy in the Haftorah shows us the opposite. In the future, the family of David will be the sole royal family. Where do these themes connect?

The beginning and end are always connected
At the beginning of the Parsha Yehuda approaches Yosef begging for mercy. The end of the Parsha describes how Ya'akov and his children are living prosperously in the land of Goshen. How are these themes aligned? Start with desperation, end off successful and abundant and happy?

Perhaps we got the whole Yehuda theme wrong. How could Yehuda approach the viceroy of Egypt? How did he have the Chutzpah to demand something of the ruler of the most powerful empire at the time? How was he not afraid to approach without permission? He came with unmistakable power and abundance. Uncover a tiny bit and you realize Yehuda is stronger than Yosef. Yehuda's action was the source that powered the success of the Jewish people in Goshen. It laid the groundwork for King Dovid's leadership when Moshiach comes as well. Full circle. Phew.

Not so fast, my favorite question coming up.
Yehuda acted based on his experience and what he knew at that time. He acted as he felt appropriate to stand up to the leader of Egypt. He did not know that he was speaking to his brother. So why didn't he tone down the drama once he knew Yosef was his brother? Why did they need Yehuda to set the spiritual tone for Jewish life in Goshen? Why couldn't they rely on Yosef? Why did Yehuda's strength not weaken with his new awareness? (that he is in fact speaking to a brother who loves him?

(Sefer Hasichos 5753 Vayigash Ois 1-5)

Blown away by the clarity and sensitivity the Rebbe brings here. Yehuda acted based on what he knew at the time. We all make choices with the information that we have. Sometimes we learn something new that would have changed the decision moving backward. But we don't live backward. Everything in our life is important and carries relevance in and of itself. Today I want to celebrate the way I chose to show up in times that I knew less than I knew today. I want to hold compassion and appreciation for myself as I was then.

Check out my new website daretodifferentiate.com channeling Yehuda energy :)