Vayigash 2021

1The Rambam in the “Laws of Kings” - Hilchot Melachim Ch 1 wrote a series of rules as to how to choose a king and what were the king’s primary responsibilities:

2Three Mitzvot were commanded upon entering Israel; to appoint a king, to eliminate Amalek, and to build a “House of Choice” - Beit Habechirah – (interesting choice of names for that place- he chose the place and the people and we in turn choose Him). What are the qualifications for kingship? 1/ Being a direct descendant of an anointed king 2/Being chosen by the Prophet and the High Court. What are the primary jobs of the King? The king must eliminate Israel’s enemies e.g. Egypt, Amalek, the seven nations, the Plishtim etc. And the king must build a holy house. E.g. Moshe built the Tabernacle, David and Solomon together built the Holy Temple.

3The Rambam wrote further, “Once David was anointed his descendants were set to be kings forever.” Others could be chosen but ultimately the kingship would revert back to David’s offspring. He was from the tribe of Judah, who was promised the kingship in next week’s Parsha. Rashi there points out that Judah was chosen for leadership because he saved Joseph from his brothers and on account of his confession regarding Tamar. It is also likely that Judah’s impassioned plea in the beginning of this week’s Parsha also played a pivotal role in his being selected to be king. For it is in moments of crisis that we recognize who is the true leader. In the Shchem story Shimon and Levi stood up, but not in a positive way, in a vengeful and deceitful and violent way. Kings are supposed to eliminate our enemies and then establish the holy place. It is inappropriate to delegate that job to a person who is prone to violence. Although Joseph was not Judah’s enemy he was certainly an adversary. In the first section of Vayigash Judah overcame Joseph’s adversarial position. Following Judah’s demonstration of his leadership he was tasked by Jacob with establishing a place of Torah in Goshen. Leadership, when expressed in any form, must always follow with Mishkan, Mikdash or Torah. Moshe and Yehoshua partnered in the fight against Amalek. Yehoshua’s name was actually Hoshea. The pasuk refers to him when chosen to wage war with Amalek as Yehoshua even though the new name was given to him much later in the Torah! It was through the conquest of Amalek that he became worthy of the title king. Yehoshua was his King’s name or nom de guerre. Soon after the defeat of Amalek came the commandment to establish a Mishkan. The Channukah story follows the same pattern; The Chashmonaim in waging the wars against the Greeks concluded their leadership with re-establishment and re-consecration of the temple. They were worthy of kingship on account of that pattern of behavior. The Al Hanisim prayer says exactly that; “And to your people you have delivered a great salvation, and afterwards your children rededicated your temple”.

4Let us hope and pray that we merit leaders who will deliver a salvation and victory from our contemporary Amalek. “In every generation they stand over us to destroy us”, “Sheh-bechall dor vador omdim aleinu lechaloseinu”. Let us merit such leaders who will then rededicate the spiritual lights of our people here and in Jerusalem speedily and in our day.