Jacob Sent Judah to Joseph to Establish a House of Torah Study

Another interpretation: "And he sent Judah before him to Joseph, to teach the way before him" (Genesis 46:28). What does this mean? Rabbi Nehemiah said: To set up for him a house of study where he would teach Torah, so that the tribes would meditate upon Torah. Know that this is so: when Joseph went away from him, Jacob knew at which passage he had parted from him, for he had been studying it with him. When Joseph's brothers came and said to him, "Joseph is still alive," his heart went numb, for he did not believe them, as it is said, "for he did not believe them" (Genesis 45:26). Jacob recalled at which passage Joseph had parted from him. He said to them: Did he give you a sign at which passage he parted from me? Jacob said in his heart: I know that it was at the passage of the heifer that Joseph parted from me. He said to them: Tell me at which passage he parted from me, and I will believe you. Joseph too recalled at which passage he had parted from him. What did Joseph do? He gave them wagons, as it is said, "And Joseph gave them wagons" (Genesis 45:21). This teaches you that in every place he went he occupied himself with Torah, just as his fathers had done, even though the Torah had not yet been given. Indeed, it is written of Abraham, "And he kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws" (Genesis 26:5). And from where did Abraham learn the Torah? Rabbi Simeon ben Yohai says: His two kidneys were made for him like two full jars, and they would pour forth Torah. And from where do we know this? Where it says, "Even at night my kidneys instruct me" (Psalms 16:7). Rabbi Samuel bar Nahman said in the name of Rabbi Jonathan ben Eleazar Ish ha-Birah: Even the laws of the mingling of cooked dishes (eruv tavshilin) did our father Abraham know, as it is said, "Because Abraham hearkened to My voice" (Genesis 26:5). And at three years of age Abraham recognized his Creator, as it is said, "Because [eikev]" — for all the days of Abraham were one hundred and seventy-five, and from here you learn that at three years of age he recognized Him; and he kept even the fine details of the Torah and taught it to his children, as it is said, "For I have known him, to the end that he may command his children and his household after him" (Genesis 18:19). The Holy One, blessed be He, said to him: You have taught your children Torah in this world, but in the world to come I in My glory will teach them the Torah, as it is said, "And all your children shall be taught of the Lord, and great shall be the peace of your children" (Isaiah 54:13).