QUESTION:
The Rav explains that Yehudah (who came from Leah) received the “temimus” (emunah, tefillah) aspect of Yaakov Avinu, whereas Yosef (who came from Rochel) received the daas/chochmah (wisdom, Torah) of Yaakov. Why then did Yehudah sell Yosef? Isn’t that the opposite of temimus? It would have made more sense for daas/chochmah (Yosef) to feel threatened from temimus (Yehudah) since the logic of daas cannot handle the earnestness of temimus.
ANSWER:
Yehudah [in his temimus, sold Yosef because he] thought he was saving the brothers from Yosef [whom he perceived as a danger].
QUESTION
2) It is known that Esav will be defeated in the future through the power of Yosef, and as it is written, “And the house of Yosef will be a flame, and the house of Esav will be like straw.” According to one view in the Midrash, Esav was killed by Yehudah [and according to the Gemara, Esav was killed by Chushim son of Don]. Why was Esav killed by Yehudah (according to the Midrash) and not by Yosef?
ANSWER
Rashi says that the name of Esav implies asuy v’gomer, “made and complete”, meaning that Esav represents the evil completion, the evil that counters the complete havayah. Yehudah was the holy havayah to counter the evil, pseudo-havayah of Esav. And Esav is also countered by Yosef, who is called the tosefes, the addition, and the “addition” of Yosef reveals that Esav is not made and complete.
QUESTION
2) It is known that Esav will be defeated in the future through the power of Yosef, and as it is written, “And the house of Yosef will be a flame, and the house of Esav will be like straw.” According to one view in the Midrash, Esav was killed by Yehudah [and according to the Gemara, Esav was killed by Chushim son of Don]. Why was Esav killed by Yehudah (according to the Midrash) and not by Yosef?
ANSWER
Rashi says that the name of Esav implies asuy v’gomer, “made and complete”, meaning that Esav represents the evil completion, the evil that counters the complete havayah. Yehudah was the holy havayah to counter the evil, pseudo-havayah of Esav. And Esav is also countered by Yosef, who is called the tosefes, the addition, and the “addition” of Yosef reveals that Esav is not made and complete.
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