Ox-Lion

Parshat ויגש begins with the confrontation between two powerhouses, Yehuda the Lion, and Yosef the Bull. Some say that there was a screaming match between them. It was a struggle for power and leadership of the Jewish nation.

Later in history, this struggle continued when the kingdom was divided. The northern part of Israel was known as Efraim, son of Yosef. And the south was the area of Yehuda. It is interesting that Binyamin aligned himself with Yehuda, and his protection.

The roles of Yehuda became more defined when we speak of משיח בן יוסף and משיח בן דוד. It is not clear if we will be able to actually identify משיח בן יוסף. Like Yosef, he will be more of a material provider. He will help with the physical return of the Jewish people to Eretz Yisrael.

The משיח בן דוד from Yehuda, has a clear task. He must destroy Amalek and rebuild the Beit Hamikdash. It is interesting to see how the origins of the roles of these great men already began in Egypt.