" Then Yehudah approached him and said, "Please, my lord, let now your servant speak something into my lord's ears, and let not your wrath be kindled against your servant, for you are like Pharaoh ." (Bereishis 44:18) The Medrash tells us that this battle between Yosef and Yehuda is a battle between two kings. "They [the brothers] said: Kings are negotiating with each other; of what concern is it to us?" (Bereshis Rabah 93:2) Yosef and Yehuda represent two forms of Jewish leadership. We know that there are not one but two Mashiachs. One who descends from Yosef and the other from Yehuda. What is the difference between Yosef and Yehuda? What are they battling about? In the final act of the drama between Yosef and his brothers, Yehuda approaches Yosef and submits to his power. At long last their fight has come to an end and it is now appropriate for Yosef to reveal himself to his brothers. But what exactly was their disagreement? The Torah is unclear on this point. We know that Yosef’s brothers hated him because Yaakov showed Yosef favoritism and Yosef’s dreams were a source of further contention but is that really all? Many of us would be frustrated if our father loved one child more than the next but that would not lead us to the conclusion to sell our brother into slavery. Obviously on some level the Shevatim considered Yosef’s dreams to be important or they would not have taken them seriously. Why now, when Yehuda finally submits to Yosef, does Yosef decide to reveal himself
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