Vayeshev תרל”א 2

במדרש נפזר עצמינו כו’ ואין מובן.
Midrash (Bereishit Rabba 85:2) says that the juxtaposition of Yosef sent to Mitzrayim and Yehuda leaving his brothers was because the brothers decided that so long as they are together the debt of the sale of Yosef was constantly hanging over their heads. Therefore the brothers split up, in order to separate the tribes. This is not easily understood?
וי”ל עפ”י מ”ש אא”ז מו”ר זצלה”ה כי בחי’ יוסף היה להיות קדוש ונבדל בלתי לה’ לבדו כמ”ש נזיר אחיו.
We can explain this by what the Chidushei Harim said regarding the idea of Yosef. He was separated and completely holy and devoted to HaShem, as he is called a ‘crown of his brothers’
ובחי’ יהודה הי’ להביא הקדושה גם בעניני עוה”ז כמ”ש ואל עמו תביאנו כו’.
And Yehuda’s mission was to bring the holiness into the mundane of this world, as the pasuk says about him (Devarim 33:7) ‘bring him to his people’
ושמעתי ממנו כי בזה היו מחולקין גם רבותינו נ”ע כי מהם רצו שיהי’ מעט חסידים ויהיו קדושי עליונים. ומהם רצו להיות מתפשט החסידות בין רוב עם אף שיהיו פחותים במדריגה עכ”ד.
And in the name of the Chidushei Harim I hear that (when chasidus started) there was a debate amongst the leaders. There were those that wanted there to be few chasidim however they should be very holy. And others felt that there should be many chasidim even if they will be on a lower level.
ולפי”ז נמצא היתרון מרצון השבטים הי’ בחי’ הפיזור כמובן. וז”ש נפזר עצמינו כי זה עיקר התועלת להיות ההנהגה כרצונם:
And according to this the difference between Yosef and Yehuda was that Yosef preferred to stay in one place of holiness and let the holiness spread forth from there. However Yehuda was of the idea of spreading out and bringing holiness everywhere. Therefore the Midrash says that Yehuda suggested spreading out and through that they will be able to bring about the holiness of HaShem throughout the world.