In the Zohar, the meeting between Joseph and Judah is described as “one world approaching another so that all becomes one. Because Judah is a king and Joseph is a king.” The Yitav Lev, another Chassidic work, explains that Joseph is the king in practice, ruling Egypt as a sovereign and Judah, possesses the qualities of kingship, but he is a king in potential. This parallels the dynamic between David, Judah’s descendant, and Joseph. David is the archetype of the King of Israel lives and endures, but in the Torah itself, David is absent—his kingship lies far in the future, emerging from potential to actual only after a long journey. Meanwhile, Joseph embodies kingship realized in the present.
The Yitav Lev concludes with this idea, leaving us with a profound understanding of Malchut: the interplay between potential and actual kingship, humility and recognition, and the ultimate emergence of hidden sovereignty into revealed leadership.
Every Jew is a king in potential. Earlier, we mentioned that the eighth of an eighth of pride is what allows each of us to speak up even against other kings, as we saw in the verse, “I will speak of Your commandments before kings and will not be ashamed.” Within the realm of potential, there are various levels, depending on how deeply concealed the potential is. Regardless of the depth the potential is hidden at, to bring it into practice, boldness is required. The king in potential must not only refrain from being ashamed before the king in practice but by declaring the truth of the Torah, he causes his potential kingship to actualize. This is especially pertinent in our time when we yearn for the reestablishment of the Davidic lineage, which like a shoot emerging from a root, will sprout forth. How it grows depends on our being able to behave as kings.
One of the profound teachings from Izbica is the revelation that the king in practice is also our brother. We often perceive the king in practice as our greatest adversary, our number one enemy. Yet, as it will be revealed in the future that a Jew never truly sinned, so too will it be revealed that the seemingly antagonistic king in practice is, in fact, my brother. This “adversarial” king is waiting for the king in potential to take initiative, to rise with strength and address him directly, as one king speaks to another. When this happens, the king in practice will be compelled to reveal his true nature and admit that he is a brother. At that moment, he will openly acknowledge the truth, marking the synthesis of Judah with Joseph. Joseph says, “It was God who sent me here to sustain you.” But Joseph also knows the greater truth: that it is Judah who is destined for kingship. The time will come—and the bolder we are with holiness, the sooner it will arrive—that the king in potential will rule in practice, eternally.
This is the ultimate interpretation within the ten sefirot of “Judah approached him.” The king in potential must approach the king in practice with unwavering boldness and truth. He must speak plainly, from one king to another, declaring his purpose and destiny. Through this act of courage and authenticity, the hidden unity between them will be revealed, paving the way for the potential to become actualized and for Judah’s kingship to emerge fully and reign forever.
