Judah & the Jews – Vayyiggash
The sidra opens with Judah as the spokesman for the family. From the name Judah come the words Jews and Judaism.
There are historical reasons for this nomenclature, but there is also an ethical and emotional aspect.
It takes Judah-like courage to stand up before the world and proclaim the love of God and fellow man.
It doesn’t make for popularity and never did. But not even the yearning for a quiet life can warrant shrinking back from one’s ethical duty.
From the emotional point of view a Jew cannot resile from admitting his or her Jewishness.
When others sneer, “You’re a Jew!”, the answer has to be, “So?”
