B"H

Tuesday, Tevet 8, 5778 / December 26, 2017

This week’s Parsha, Vayechi, tells about Yaakov’s final years. It begins, “Yaakov lived in the land of Egypt for 17 years. The total of Yaakov’s days, the years of his life, were 147 years.”

Yaakov feels that his days are numbered, he calls his son, Joseph and makes him swear that after his death he will not bury him in Egypt. Yaakov says, “When I pass away you shall carry me out of Egypt and bury me in my father’s burial place (in the city of Hebron).”

Then Yaakov blesses Joseph’s two sons, Ephraim and Menashe. Yaakov says to Joseph, “Your two sons who were born in Egypt before I came to Egypt shall be to me like my own two sons. He blessed them saying, When the people of Israel will bless their children they will say, ‘May G-d make you as Ephrayim and as Menashe.’” 

Q. Yaakov came to Egypt with fifty grandchildren and four great grandchildren. What was so special about his two grandsons, Ephrayim and Menashe, that he said that the people of Israel will bless their children to be like Ephrayim and Menashe?

A. All of Yaakov’s grandchildren, except Ephrayim and Menashe were born in the land of Canaan (Israel) and were raised in close proximity of their grandfather. They were educated and inspired by their grandfather, Yaakov, one of the patriarchs of the Jewish people. They grew up in a wonderful family environment and didn’t really have any major challenges to overcome.

However, Joseph’s two sons, Ephrayim and Menashe, were born and raised in Egypt. Far from their family setting. Their father, Joseph was the viceroy of Egypt. They grew up in Egypt and thus had to overcome many challenges not to be influenced by the Egyptian culture in order to stay true to their grandfather’s convictions and way of life.

Yaakov knew that his descendents were about to go through the great difficulties of the Egyptian exile and the many exiles thereafter. Thus, Yaakov said that Jews will bless their children to be like Ephrayim and Menashe – that no matter the circumstances, they should have the strength and ability to withstand the external pressures and stay loyal to their Jewish heritage and culture.

Q. We read in last week’s Parsha that Yaakov was 130 when he came to Egypt. In this Parsha we read that he was 147 when he passed away. Why does the Torah have to tell us that Yaakov lived in Egypt 17 years. We could figure this out ourselves (147–130 = 17)?

A. The Torah wants to tell us, “Yaakov lived in the land of Egypt for seventeen years.” – Yaakov’s last 17 years were years in which “Yaakov lived” - they were the best years of Yaakov’s life. In fact, “good” in Hebrew is “Tov” - whose numerical value is 17.  It is up to us to make good of whatever situation or place where one is.

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY & SUCCESSFUL DAY