Why Yaakov Should Be Given Consideration by the Judge

"His soul is bound up with his soul" (44:30) Why did Yehuda bother to tell Yosef that Yaakov would die if Binyamin were not returned to him? There is no reason why a judge should take into consideration the condition of an accused thief's father!

Yehuda was arguing as follows: When a thief is imprisoned his parents also suffer, and this is fitting, for if they had been more careful, he would not have strayed down the path of crime.

The Tzaddik, Yaakov, however, is so attached to Binyamin that he never let the child out of his sight. How then can you imprison Binyamin and cause his father to suffer? (Bet Halevi)

Reprinted from this week’s whY I Matter email compiled for the Young Israel of Midwood in Brooklyn by R’ Yedidye Hirtenfeld.