Both of these giants had qualities that are necessary for leadership. Yosef was a man of integrity, who naturally did what was right. Yehuda, on the other hand, struggled with his flaws but ultimately overcame them. As we look at our political leaders, it is important to consider these qualities. We should seek leaders who have integrity and a natural inclination towards doing what is right. But we should also recognize that everyone has flaws, and what is important is the ability to overcome them and grow from them.
So, in considering your vote for the upcoming election, it is important to weigh the character traits of the candidates. Consider their integrity, their past actions, and their ability to overcome challenges. And remember, it is your responsibility as a citizen to participate in the democratic process and make your voice heard.
May we all merit leaders who embody the qualities of both Yosef and Yehuda, and may we all strive to uphold the values of democracy and freedom that are so important to our society.
Yehuda was the one responsible for selling Yosef into slavery, yet when it came to sparing Yaakov the grief of losing Binyamin, it was Yehuda who rose to the occasion.
âWhat type of individual would be most suited for a Rabbinic position or for a leadership role in the community? What type of person could best serve as a role model for children and adults? Yaakov believed it was Yosef, the son who seemed perfect in everything he undertook, and so he groomed him for that position by providing him with a ketonet passim, a multi-colored garment symbolizing royalty. But Hashem had other plans, for very few people could aspire to reach the heights of Yosef HaTzaddik, the righteous Joseph. Most of us are like Yehuda: we fall and fall again, but are able to learn from our mistakes. It was for this reason that the Torah states (Bereishit 49:10), âLo yasur shevet miYehuda,” the staff of authority shall not depart from Yehuda. The Torah is realistic and down to earth. Leaders are not infallible, they are not perfect, and they do make mistakes. But if they can learn from their mistakes, picking themselves up and climbing to greater heights, they are truly worthy of our confidence.” Thus concludes Rav Soloveitchik.
I will add that throughout the period of the Shoftim â the judges, before there was a king in Israel the people in the land of Israel were ruled by judges and leaders that were chosen by the prophets and sages to lead them. One of those leaders was Jephthah â Yiftach, whose mother as a second wife married out of her tribe to Gilead and bore him Yiftach. As such his brothers, the sons of Gileadâs first wife and the leaders of Gilead cast him out as an outsider and of lower caste. However, when they were faced with the enemy, Ammon, they turned to Yiftach, who though they considered him to be of lower caste they knew him to be a leader. Indeed as a leader Divine inspiration came upon him and he served them for six years..
Thus our Talmud (Rosh Hashana 25 a-b) teaches a rule Yiftach b’doro kâShmuel bâdoro â Jephthah in his generation is as Samuel in his generation. We choose a leader who has the necessary qualities for his generation.
We now come to the candidates for the current Presidential election. There are two candidates, Kamala Harris who serves as vice president in the now lame duck Biden administration; and Donald Trump whose presidency immediately preceded the current one.
If we compare the two, the Biden â Harris administration has weakened the American economy and failed as well on the world scene. On the other hand under the Trump administration the economy was doing quite well and beginning the recovery from the Obama administration that preceded it. It is hard to imagine any of the current world wide strife being possible under a strong Trump administration and that includes the horrors and catastrophe that the people of Israel have endured on October 7, 2023 as well as the ongoing war on four fronts, Gaza from the west, Hezbollah in the north, Iran from the east, and the Houthis from the south.
Two other short and simple facts â both the Obama and Biden administrations were soft in their support of Israel when it was attacked in the UN by withholding their veto for crucial anti-Israel UN Security Council votes.
It was Donald Trump who not only moved the American Embassy to Jerusalem, Israelâs eternal capital, as promised by numerous previous administrations albeit never delivered, but who also initiated the Abraham Accords bringing greater peace to the Middle East and to the nation of Israel. We as Jews, under this administration are suffering a resurgence of the antisemitism that we all thought was a relic of the past.
Additionally to question Donald Trumpâs character in relation to either Joe Biden, Kamala Harris or Tim Walz is like the pot calling the kettle black.
We as loyal citizens and as Jews must vote for a better America and as Jews, express our gratitude â Hakarat HaTov to Donald Trump and elect him our 47th president. In my estimation he is the candidate that deserves our unqualified support.