B"H

Thursday, Tevet 14, 5777 / January 12, 2017

This week's Parsha, Vayechi, begins with, "And Yaakov lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years." 

As mentioned previously, the name "Vayechi" - and Yaakov "lived" indicates that the final seventeen years of Yaakov's life were good years. Yaakov himself expresses this best.  When his son, Joseph, brought his two sons, Menashe and Ephraim to Yaakov for his blessing, Yaakov kissed and embraced them and said to Joseph, "I didn't think I would see your face and now, G-d let me see also your children."

Yaakov's fondness for these two grandchildren is clearly seen in the Parsha. In addition to giving Menashe and Ephraim his special blessings, Yaakov appoints each of them as the head of a tribe in Israel. They were his only grandchildren that merited being heads of two of the twelve tribes.

In addition, Yaakov proclaims, "By you shall the people of Israel bless their children, saying, 'May G-d make you as Ephraim and as Menashe'." Jewish parents have used this phrase to bless their sons each Friday night for thousands of years.

Q.What was so special about Ephraim and Menashe over Yaakov’s other grandchildren?

A.Our sages explain that Ephraim and Menashe were Yaakov's only grandchildren who were born and raised away from their grandfather. Yaakov's other grandchildren were all raised under his guidance in the land of Canaan. This naturally instilled in them their spiritual heritage and love of G-d. But, Ephraim and Menashe were born and raised in Egypt, during the years that Joseph ruled Egypt.

Yet, Ephraim and Menashe were not swayed by the Egyptian culture. Instead, they conducted their lives as befitting grandchildren of Yaakov, thus bringing the greatest pleasure and Nachas to their grandfather.  Menashe and Ephraim proved to Yaakov that the education their father, Yosef, received during his youth remained with him and enabled him to transmit the same values to his children even in such an alien environment as Egypt of those days.

This is what Yaakov means, "By you shall Israel bless saying, 'May G-d make you as Ephraim and as Menashe.’”  This is a blessing to Jewish children throughout the generations to withstand all tests and pressures of their surroundings and stay loyal to their Jewish heritage.

In the Parsha we read that Yaakov makes Joseph swear to take his remains out of Egypt and bury him in the Me'arat Hamachpeilah, the family burial plot, in Hebron. The Me'arat Hamachpeila in Hebron is the resting place of Adam & Eve, Abraham & Sarah, Yitzchak & Rivkah, Yaakov and Leah.

The Parsha concludes with the passing of Joseph.  Joseph too made his brothers promise to take his remains out of Egypt at the time of the Exodus.  Joseph passed away at the age of 110.

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY