When Judah approaches Joseph he does so as a proud Jew. This teaches us that we should be proud of who we are.
Judah Approaches Joseph: Self-Respect in Exile
In today’s Torah portion, Judah approaches Joseph—without knowing that he is Joseph. All Judah knows is that this man is the viceroy of Egypt, the most powerful figure in the land. He also knows that his brother Benjamin is about to be sent to prison on false charges.
Judah steps forward and says that he himself should take Benjamin’s place. He is willing to go to prison instead of his brother. But Judah does more than offer self-sacrifice. He makes it clear that he will not allow his family—his people—to be abused. He approaches power with dignity and self-respect.
This is the moment when Joseph breaks down.
And this becomes an eternal lesson for us.
Throughout history, Jews have lived as a small minority within dominant cultures. We are always faced with the same question: How do we approach power when we are in exile? How do we relate to a dominant culture when we are few and vulnerable?
The Torah’s answer is clear: without self-respect, no one else will respect us.
A powerful historical example comes from 1787, during the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. A religious Jew named Jonas Phillips, who had fought in the American Revolution as a member of the Continental Army, wrote a letter of protest. Despite his service, he was barred from holding public office in Pennsylvania because he was not a Christian.
Phillips did not demand that America become Jewish—he knew how small the Jewish population was. But he did demand equality. He insisted that Jews deserve the same civil rights as other Americans.
His argument was heard.
As a result, the United States Constitution included a revolutionary principle: no religious test shall ever be required for federal office. Anyone of any faith could serve. While the states took longer to follow, this protection was enshrined at the national level because a proud Jew had the courage to speak with dignity.
George Washington later expressed this idea clearly when he affirmed that Jews had the same right to be in America as anyone else—that citizenship and equality did not depend on religion.
All of this traces back to one essential truth: self-respect creates respect.
That is the message Judah teaches us. He does not beg. He does not apologize for who he is. He stands firm, with humility and dignity, and because of that, he is heard.
Something to think about.
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