Shabbat Shalom!
Have you checked in on your child’s class Wiki recently? Classes are hard at work learning about the Life Cycle, working on projects and, most of all, engaging in fun Jewish Learning. Take a look at what each of your child’s classes are doing:
Shorashim parents can visit the class Wiki Page here:
http://shorashim.wikispaces.com/
Nitzanim parents can visit the class Wiki Page here:
http://keshernitzanim.wikispaces.com/
Anafim parents can visit the class Wiki Page here:
http://anafimkesher.wikispaces.com/
Te’enim parents can visit the class Wiki Page here: http://kesherteenim.wikispaces.com/
This week, we conclude the book of Genesis with the Torah portion Vayechi – meaning “and he lived.”
A major theme, which runs throughout the book of Genesis, is the granting of the blessing to the next generation by the Patriarchs. The blessings contain a vision for the future, and pass the mantle of leadership in Torah to the next generation.
Who better than Jacob can appreciate the profound impact associated with the receiving of a blessing. Now he, too, must use his life-long experience and wisdom to convey his blessing to his children. As Jacob’s life comes to an end, he call Joseph and his two sons before him to be blessed. Joseph places Menashe, his first born, opposite Jacob’s right hand, and Ephraim opposite Jacob’s left hand. To Joseph’s surprise, Jacob crosses his hands, first placing his right hand on Ephraim’s head and then placing his left hand over his right onto the head of Menashe. The right hand was the symbol of power and thus it was the hand that transmitted the blessing of greatest intent.
One Torah commentator wrote that the right and left hands represent the two ways that God rules the world, the right hand being the miraculous order and the left hand being the natural order. In the miraculous order, divine influence corresponds to the good deeds and merits of the individual. In the natural order, goodness occurs according to the laws of nature established at the time of creation.
Jacob sees that the greatness of Ephraim will manifest itself through individual excellence particularly to be found in Joshua, a descendant of Ephraim. Menashe will be numerically great. Since Ephraim’s greatness transcends the natural order, he will receive the blessing of the right hand. Menashe, being great in number, is blessed within the natural order, with the left hand which represents wealth and honor .
Both Menashe and Ephraim are models of greatness in their own right. They represent the Jew in exile who, despite a hostile environment, flourishes and holds fast to the spiritual heritage of his forefathers.
Jacob’s blessing is a hope and a prayer that future generations will be like Ephraim and Menashe, each individual containing both elements of spiritual and worldly greatness, excellence in Torah study combined with wealth and honor in this world.
It is because of the greatness of both Ephraim and Menashe that when a parent blesses his/her male child on Friday evening, the prayer reads: “May you be like Ephraim and Manashe.”
May we each count our blessings and both receive and give blessings to those around us.
This Shabbat, at your Shabbat table, think about the following:
- Parents are supposed to bless their kids each Shabbat – for boys we say (as we just learned) “May you be like Ephraim and Manashe” before we bless them. For girls, we say “May you be like Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel and Leah” and then we deliver the blessing.
- This week try using one of those traditional formulas to bless your kids and then share what you really mean by it- what are the qualities we want our children to take from our ancestors?
- Another way we instill hope for the future in our kids is when we give them their Hebrew names. Most often, our kids are named for someone in the family – usually someone who has died. Take an opportunity this Shabbat to perhaps take out a picture of the individual (s) for whom your child is named and share some of the qualities in that person you hope your child will someday espouse.
Shabbat Shalom!
