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Parshat Vayigash
2004
The Quiet Leader
There are two leaders highlighted in this week's parsha, Vayigash. One is Joseph, regularly heralded as a leader in many contexts. The second is Judah, whose leadership role is much more subtle. The parsha begins with Judah's impassioned plea to the still-masked Joseph to imprison him instead of Benjamin, who was found with the silver goblet at the end of last week's parsha. Judah, who convinced Jacob to let Benjamin journey with them to Egypt, steps up to the plate in a major way. He puts the mental and physical health of his father in front of his own freedom. This is a vastly different Judah than the one complicit in his brother's disappearance years before. Judah demonstrates his personal growth in this lengthy appeal.
But Judah is a quiet leader. Though his selfless offer is often regarded as a paradigm of leadership, Judah is subsequently mentioned by name only one time in the remainder of the parsha. His actions in securing Benjamin's freedom certainly made him a leader among his brothers, as he thought about the welfare of the family as a whole and acted on their behalf. After this incident, however, Judah is not a headliner.
Jacob does give a nod to Judah as a leader in sending Judah ahead of the family to Goshen. Rashi suggests that Judah was sent not only to prepare for the clan's arrival but, in fact, to establish a yeshiva in Goshen. You might expect an emotional interchange between father and son as Jacob implicitly forgives Judah for his role in betraying Joseph and entrusts him with this important duty, but no such scene occurs. It is not a glamorous task assigned to Judah but a fundamental one, for without schools Jewish tradition could not be passed on, and without preparation the family's move could have been much rockier.
Of the many leadership models out there, the one least often noticed is the model provided by Judah. This is a man who began as a leader with a vicious will and evil intent toward his younger brother, but now he leads by action and example. It is a true leader who acts without thought of reward or recognition. Judah reminds us to look for the quiet leader in our midst, not the person whose name is on the plaque, but the one who serves as the glue in your family, community or organization.
Prepared by Liz Rutzick, Director of Engagement, University of Maryland Hillel.
Learn More
Additional commentaries and text studies on Parshat Vayigash at MyJewishLearning.com.
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