DECEMBER 7 • 2023 | 61
J
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Hostage Has a Story” 
is unique, and most 
fitting for a library 
exhibit. Along with 
an image, each chair 
has a book specifically 
chosen for every 
hostage. Relatives of 
the hostages shared 
stories of their loved 
ones, and librarians 
chose a book for 
each person that they 
thought might help 
exhibit viewers gain a bit 
of perspective about the 
hostage as a person. 
For one example, there is 
Elyakim Livman, 24 years 
old, the kind person who 
can’t bear to see people 
picking on those weaker 
than themselves. His family 
nicknamed him “Robin 
Hood,” so a copy of The 
Adventures of Robin Hood is 
on his chair.
For another, The Art of 
Loving, was chosen for 
27-year-old Inbar Haiman. 
Her partner, Noam Alon, 
told librarians that they 
were reading it together. He 
awaits her return so that 
they can finish it together.

On the personal level, 
Curator Gani stated that 
she had “to admit that the 
issue of the hostages is a 
very difficult one for me 
… I found myself reading 
about them day and night. 
Now each name and picture 
is a name and picture that 
I have come to know and 
love. As a consequence, the 
pain of their absence has 
also grown and so has the 
great hope to see them here 
again.” 
“Every Hostage Has a 
Story” is first-rate work 
by Gani and the NLI. It is 
poignant and has a salient 
message: “This story must 
have a happy ending.” 

SPIRIT

Responsibility
and Leadership
I

n this week’s Torah portion, 
we see Joseph wandering 
into a trap. Already too 
outspoken about his dreams, 
Joseph is sent by his father 
Jacob to find out 
where his brothers 
are grazing with their 
sheep. When he finds 
his brothers, they 
initially plot to kill 
him, but Reuben, the 
oldest brother, prevails 
upon them to throw 
him in a pit instead.
Judah then steps 
up and convinces 
the brothers to sell 
Joseph to the passing 
Ishmaelites rather 
than kill him. Reuben 
was not around when 
they sold Joseph; and when 
he returned to save Joseph, he 
was dismayed to discover that 
he wasn’t there. 
As the firstborn son, 
Reuben believes that it is his 
responsibility to be the leader, 
to take charge, to steer the 
brothers in the right direction. 
His actions are admirable - 
as is his attempt to convince 
Jacob to send Benjamin down 
to Egypt later in the story. In 
both cases, he is unsuccessful, 
only to see Judah take more 
decisive and successful action. 
Finally, when it comes 
time to stand up to Joseph 
when Benjamin is accused of 
stealing the viceroy’s goblet, it 
is Judah only who approaches 
Joseph and tells him why 
they cannot leave without 
Benjamin. 
In reading the story, I sense 
that Reuben is a partial lesson 
in leadership. As the firstborn 
son, he wants to lead. He 

wants to take responsibility. 
He wants to save Joseph - and 
later, the rest of the brothers. 
As an educator, I can point 
to Reuben’s assumption of 
responsibility and admire 
that as a model for our 
students. Yet, the Torah is 
clearly indicating to us that 
this is insufficient, since 
Reuben is not successful. 
Taking responsibility 
means responsibility for 
the results and not just 
for the process. Twice, 
Reuben steps forward, but 
he doesn’t get people to 
buy in; he doesn’t convince 
his brothers or his father 
of his scheme; he doesn’t 
see his plans through to 
the end.
Good intentions, weak 
follow-through. This leaves 
the door open for Judah, who 
follows through powerfully 
each time. He makes sure that 
Joseph doesn’t get killed, he 
makes sure that Jacob allows 
Benjamin to come down to 
Egypt, he makes sure that 
Joseph will release Benjamin. 
Judah becomes the tribe of the 
kingship, the dynastic leaders 
of the people of Israel. 
Even the responsible among 
us can say “we tried” and 
throw up our hands when 
our attempt doesn’t work. 
This is Reuben. By contrast, 
Judah says, “I am going to 
try, and I am not going to fail 
because there is too much at 
stake!” This is true leadership 
and it is precisely the kind of 
leadership we need today. 

Rabbi Josh Levisohn is Head of 

School at Farber Hebrew Day 

School in Southfield.

TORAH PORTION

Rabbi Josh 
Levisohn

Parshat 

Vayeshev: 

Genesis 

37:1-40:23; 

Numbers 

7:18-23; 

Zachariah 

2:14-4:7.

