I started writing about the fact that today marked 365 days since I began the Daf Yomi program, and about how it has had the most incredible effect on my life… but it’s really a story unto itself so I will just have to save it for another time. However, it did get me thinking about one of the primary themes in this week’s parsha, and that is the importance of our Mesorah – the unbroken chain from father to son, rebbi to talmid that has always been the secret to our continuity since the time of our holy forefathers and mothers; Avraham, Yitzchok and Yaakov, Sarah, Rivkah, Rochel and Leah.
The significance of our Mesorah was stressed more than once by Yaakov Avinu in this week’s parsha, as seen by the words of the brachos that he gave his children and grandchildren. He begins with “Hamalach hagoel osi mikol ra, yivarech es ha’nearim… b’sheim avosai Avraham v’Yitzchok…” Yaakov knew what we all know now – that it has always been about our future and about our children, in as much as it has always been about connecting to the past – connecting to those who lived and sacrificed before us, throughout the thousands of years of our hallowed history.
A few pesukim later, we find that Yaakov Avinu gave his grandsons another special bracha – this time one that relates more so to the future generations of Bnei Yisroel than of generations past. He told them that the Jewish people would forever bless their sons to be like them – like Ephraim and Menashe. Indeed, till this day, this is how it’s done.
What was so specifically special about Menashe and Ephraim that we want our children to be like them? Surely, the kedushah of Levi, the royalty of Yehudah, or the Torah scholarship of Yissachar (just to name a few) are also worth emulating? But this is where I think a very relevant lesson comes to light.
We know that the sons of Yosef grew up in Mitzrayim, which was the world’s most powerful country. But Egyptian culture was evil to the core. The Egyptians didn’t believe in Hashem and were immensely immodest. Yet Menashe and Ephraim were not influenced by those living around them. They did not copy the ways of the Mitzriyim nor did they mimic the way they spoke. When everyone was out celebrating Egyptian holidays, Yosef’s sons did not follow. Despite their surroundings, they grew up to be tzaddikim, believing in Hashem, and acting and dressing modestly. In fact, they became so holy that they were on the same level as their uncles, the Shevatim, who had been raised by Yaakov himself!
Therefore, we bless our children to be like them – to grow up to be ehrliche Yidden, bnei Torah and shomrei mitzvos, and to have the spiritual fortitude not to be influenced by the evil values that exist in the world around them. It is our hope that our children grow to be proud and strong (chazak!), taking their rightful place as permanent links in the long chain of the Mesorah. Thus, they will connect themselves to all those who came before them – a lineage stretching all the way back to our Avos and Imahos Hakdoshim.
In Jewish households around the globe, many have the custom of bentching their children on leil Shabbos – giving brachos to our precious girls and boys as Shabbos enters the world. Yisimcha, the epic tune composed by the great Yossi Green, begins with the sweet blessing that was given by Yaakov Avinu to his progeny in this week’s parsha (48:20). The song is sung by the sensational Avraham Fried on his 1995 album called Bracha V’hatzlacha and aptly takes us into our peaceful day of rest with the bracha of peace and protection – words that were given to the offspring of Aharon with which to bless the Jewish people (Bamidbar 6:24-26). This song, with its children’s choir singing along, and with Avremel (of course, himself a Kohen) serenading us with the Priestly Blessing, definitely makes for a beautiful way to enter this Shabbos Chazak, Parshas Vayechi, wouldn’t you agree?
Chazak, Chazak, V’nischazek – Good Shabbos to one and all!
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