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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