וְאֶת־יְהוּדָה שָלַח לְפָנָיו אֶל־יוֹסֵף לְהוֹרֹת לְפָנָיו גּשְנָה And Yaakov sent Yehuda ahead of him to Goshen, to teach (Bereishis 46:28) As this verse is letting us know, on his great move to Mitzrayim, Yaakov Avinu sent Yehuda ahead of him. What was the purpose for this? Rashi explains that Yaakov Avinu wanted Yehuda to establish a Beis Midrash in Mitzrayim before the family would arrive there. From that Beis Midrash, the Torah’s halachic/guiding teaching would emanate. As such the verse says: לְּהוֹרֹת - to teach (related to the word הוראה - a halachic/guiding teaching).
The lesson from here is for us as well. Yaakov Avinu taught that the formation of the structure for Torah study that guides our lives needs to be fixed in first. And then, everything else. When you open your daily planner and plan your tomorrow’s busy schedule, “send Yehuda ahead first, to teach” - first, schedule in the sedorim for learning, and then everything else.
Rhymes for Kids
Learn from Yehuda the proper way,
To plan the schedule of your ____.
Trivia
“Chaim, could you bring me a cup of water?” asked Chaim’s father. “For me too, please,” said Chaim’s grandfather. Chaim ran to the kitchen, returned with a cup of water and handed it to his father. Then, he ran back into the kitchen, returned with a cup of water and handed it to his grandfather. “Why didn’t you serve me first? Am I not older than your father?” asked Chaim’s grandfather.
“I’m sorry, zeidy, but I learned from this week’s parsha that I need to honor my father more than my grandfather,” answered Chaim. From which verse in the parsha did Chaim learn this halacha?
