Jewish Stature

The Sages teach: “The deeds of the Patriarchs are a guide for their descendants.” A Jew can look to the lives of our forefathers, and learn how to act in his daily life.

Important lessons from the Torah Portion of Vayigash:

Judah fearlessly stood up to the ruler of the world’s superpower in order to save his brother Benjamin. Not only did his courage succeed, but it brought about royal treatment for their entire family, and especially for their father Jacob.

Descent into exile is itself a foreshadow of Redemption. Joseph was ‘Hurad – brought down’ into Egypt. But the Midrash states that this already hinted to his future uplifted stature, as in the prophecy, ‘Veyerd Miyam Ad Yam – He will rule from sea to sea.’ Joseph’s descent into Egypt, and all subsequent Jewish exiles which stem from it, have one ultimate conclusion – the Jewish People will be uplifted and exalted through them.