DECEMBER 29 • 2022 | 37

SPIRIT

The Essential Quality 
of Leadership
I

n October 2000, the market 
research company Roper 
Starch conducted a poll for 
the Boston Brewing Company, 
best known for Sam Adams 
beer. They asked which of the 
two presidential candidates 
the poll’s respondents 
would rather sit down 
and have a beer with. 
As unscientific as the 
poll was, something 
about that resonated 
with the American 
public; now, more than 
20 years later, political 
pundits regularly spec-
ulate about candidates’ 
electability based on 
this “beer question.
”
In her book Politics 
of Authenticity in 
Presidential Campaigns, 1976-
2008, Erica J. Seifert argues that 
the beer question measures 
a candidate’s personability 
and authenticity, which are 
undoubtedly important qual-
ities in determining whom to 
vote for. But the Jewish tradition 
posits a more important quality, 
one that a reading of this week’s 
portion brings to light.
Ramban (Spain, 1194-1270) 
establishes a principle that he 
returns to often. He writes that 
the stories of our ancestors 
serve as the symbolic underpin-
nings of the later characteristics 
of their descendants. 
It’s true that early in his 
development we see Judah fail 
to carry out effective leadership. 
In Genesis 37:26-27, he convinc-
es his brothers not to kill Joseph 
… only to suggest trafficking 
him to a passing merchant 
caravan instead. But he learns 
from his mistakes and becomes 
the leader that stands up to the 
bullying manipulations of the 

Egyptian viceroy (his long-lost 
brother) to ensure the safety of 
his youngest brother Benjamin 
(whom Joseph demanded the 
brothers bring to Egypt despite 
the fact that it pained their 
father).
But Judah’s leadership 
doesn’t simply consist of 
him standing up to Joseph. 
Judah’s effectiveness lies 
in the tactic he uses as he 
confronts Joseph. In the 
beginning of this week’s 
portion, you’ll notice that 
Judah doesn’t say, “My 
father will experience such 
sorrow if Benjamin doesn’t 
come back with us.
” He says 
instead, “Then your servant, 
my father, said to us … ‘If 
Benjamin doesn’t return, I 
will experience such sorrow.
’”
He actually speaks to Joseph 
in his father’s voice. The ulti-
mate resolution of Judah’s devel-
opment from failed leader to 
effective leader is demonstrated 
through his empathy, through 
his ability to recognize the grief 
that his father is experiencing 
and feel that pain with him and 
to convey that pain to Joseph as 
though he himself is his father, 
feeling that pain in that very 
moment.
And so, in the coming weeks, 
as the new year begins and our 
elected officials take their oaths 
of office, let’s learn from Judah’s 
example and demand from our 
leaders not simply authenticity 
or integrity, but empathy, the 
ability to walk in the shoes of 
their constituents, to experience 
our pains with us, and, God 
willing, to celebrate our joys 
with us as well. 

Rabbi Michael Langer is a Jewish 

Studies instructor at Frankel Jewish 

Academy in West Bloomfield.

TORAH PORTION

Rabbi 
Michael 
Langer

Parshat 

Vayigash: 

Genesis 

44:18-47:27; 

Ezekiel 

37:15-28.

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