The Lion of Judah

According to rabbinical teaching (ref. Rabbi Shoshana Gelfand), each of the twelve tribes in Israel has a symbol associated with it. Benjamin is a wolf; Dan is a snake, Zebulum is a ship, and the symbol given to the tribe of Judah is that of the lion. Eventually all Jews came to be known by the name Judah - ‘Yehudah’. In fact the Hebrew word for Jew "Yehudi" comes from the name Judah. I’m sure you remember when Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers, and over the years he managed to become second in command under Pharaoh in the land of Egypt. Then many years later there was a drought in Canaan, so Joseph’s brothers came to Egypt and appeared before Joseph begging him for food. Of course, they don't recognise him, and therefore, they had no idea that their fate lay in the hands of the very person who they had betrayed years earlier. But Joseph had a plan, so he insisted that they go back home to Canaan and return to him at a later date, only this time their youngest brother Benjamin should accompany them. Note, after Joseph had gone missing Banjamin became Jacob’s favourite son.