The Soldier, Being Much Too Wise, Strategy Was His Strength, And Not Disaster (Robert Hunter & Jerry Garcia - "Lady With A Fan")

“Can he really win”? “Do you think he can get the nomination?” There is not a Shabbat, nor a Shiur (a class) that I teach, where someone doesn’t ask me that question or some question similar to it. Congregants, students, Shabbat dinner guests; they all wonder about Donald Trump, they wonder what the American public is thinking, and sometimes they find themselves agreeing with some of the things that Trump says. As the resident “American” among our friends, I try to provide some type of insight.  As Trump continues to climb in the polls, it is quite clear that aspects of his message resonate with all types of people from all walks of life. Soon after Trump made his statement about closing the United States to Muslims trying to enter; a previously scheduled trip to Israel and a meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu was cancelled. It would seem that even Prime Minister Netanyahu, doesn’t want to appear to be endorsing Trump at this time. However with nearly 60% of Republican primary voters agreeing with Trumps idea of keeping Muslims out of the United States; resonates. Why? It seems to me that those supporting Trump, especially after the terrorist attacks in Paris and in San Bernardino, California; believe that some type of cataclysmic conflict with Islam and the West appears inevitable. I don’t necessarily disagree, nor do I think that this clash is a particularly new phenomenon. It happened in the early 8^th century when Charles Martel prevented the Islamic invasion of southern France at a time when Islam swept over North Africa and into Spain. It happened again during the Crusades when, at the urging of the Pope, Christendom was urged to liberated Jerusalem from the Muslims.

This week’s Torah portion is VaYigash.  The confrontation between Yosef and his brothers is about to occur. The Parshah begins with Yehudah approaching his brother Yosef, whom he does not recognize, and pleads for Benjamin’s freedom.  Yosef reveals his identity and the brothers hug and kiss each other. They cry and they forgive each other. Yosef asks about his father’s welfare. The brother’s return to their father, Yaakov, and tell him that Yosef is alive. The brothers add that everyone, the entire clan, should go down to Egypt. So this clan, including: Jacob, the brothers, their wives and children, heads down to Egypt. Yaakov meets Pharaoh. Yosef’s family is given a parcel of land outside of Egypt in a place called Goshen, where they can tend to their flocks. Yaakov is re-united with his beloved Yosef in the land of Goshen.

For the ChaZaL, the Sages of Blessed Memory, the Sages of the Talmud, the confrontation between Yosef, the second most powerful man in Egypt, and Yehudah, the leader of the Yaakov’s sons; the confrontation is much more than just two brothers meeting up after a couple of decades. Remember, Yehudah does not yet know the identity of the man standing before him. For all Yehudah knows, this man, who looks Egyptian, dressed Egyptian, who speaks Egyptian is the embodiment of the most powerful empire and the most dominant culture in the world. The Yalkut Shimoni, a 13^th century compilation of all the Midrash of the entire TaNaCh, clarifies the nature of Yehudah’s “approach” of Yosef. V’Ruach Lo Yavoh Beineihem Eilu Hein HaShvatim; Amru HaMalachim he did not approach as if there was anything between them  rather they [Yehuda and Yosef] were the leaders of tribes and they spoke as kings. These were not individuals. Rather each represented a distinct culture. So when Yehuda tells Yosef “you are like Pharaoh”; he was really telling him that he was as corrupt, and depraved as Pharaoh and those Pharaohs that came before.  This was indeed a cataclysmic clash of two powerful cultures, theologies, and philosophies. As far as Yehudah was concerned, only one would ultimately prevail and if that meant he would give up his life to save his brother in order to prevail then so be it. But before that happens, his brothers would bring chaos to Yosef and the marketplace, much like they did to Shechem all those years before. Yehuda’s approach to Joseph wasn’t humble, it wasn’t’ obsequious with his head down and timid in nature. Rather he approached him as one king to another, unashamed, unabashed, unbowed and undeterred in his mission to get his brother released.

There is something quite admirable about Yehuda. He confronts and he stares down the corrupt evil of Pharaoh’s Egypt. If he is intimidated, he doesn’t show it. For Judah, it doesn’t matter if he is the leader of a family that believes in a divine covenant or the leader of a country, for Judah, he will do everything he can to protect his own. His approach to Yosef was based on strength, his language was based upon strength.  So when I have to explain Donald Trump, I explain it in terms of strength. He speaks in terms of strength, he is not governed by political correctness, a concept that has come to symbolize linguistic weakness. He says what people quietly say to each other. He talks tough. In times of tribulation, confusion, anxiety and fear, people gravitate toward that which appears to embody strength.  For now, at least for 60% of those Republicans most likely to vote in the Republican primary, Trump appears to embody strength. 

Peace,

Rav Yitz