Rashi interprets the word “l’horos” to mean “to teach.” Yaakov sent Yehudah to prepare a makom Torah, a place for Torah study, to lay the foundation for Torah dissemination in Egypt. The Midrash asserts that Yaakov sent Yehudah because he was on good terms with Yosef. Certainly, Yosef would have done everything within his power to assist any emissary of his father. The Midrash implies, however, that it would have been inappropriate to send Yehudah to establish a yeshivah had his relationship with Yosef not been one of total harmony.
This seems difficult to understand. Yehudah was selected because of his incredible capabilities. He was sovereign over the brothers. He reigned over them, not only in terms of physical prowess; he surpassed them intellectually and spiritually as well. He distinguished himself as the most appropriate choice to be the Rosh Yeshivah. Yet, if his relationship with Yosef had been somewhat strained, Yaakov would have passed over him in favor of a less capable individual. The Midrash seems to imply that had there been even a slight rift between Yosef and Yehudah, Yaakov would not have chosen the strongest leader for his yeshiva.
Horav A. Henach Leibowitz, Shlita, infers from this that regardless of the significance of establishing a particular institution, one may not transgress the parameters of derech eretz, good manners. If Yehudah and Yosef were not “getting along,” then it would have been inappropriate for Yaakov to send Yehudah–even if the yeshivah would have suffered. Horav Leibowitz adds that this idea only applies in the event that Yosef has a reasonable cause for being upset with Yehudah. If, however, Yosef’s reason was something he had purported without justification, it would not have served as an obstacle to establishing a makom Torah under Yehudah’s leadership.
We derive from this idea that one may build Torah only upon the foundation of derech eretz and ethics. Apparently, a Torah institution that is not founded on ethical behavior cannot succeed. Certainly one may not attempt to build a Torah institution through methods that are unscrupulous or with funds whose source is questionable. An endeavor or institution whose goal is the pursuit of truth must be founded upon and sustained with truth.
