Blessings,
Identity, Personal Responsibility and Social Justice
1/10/20
This week’s Torah portion/ parasha – Vayechi (Genesis 47:28 - 50:26) – is the last in the
book of Genesis/Beresheit. It seems almost fitting that it’s the final portion
as it is about the deaths of two of our main historical and religious figures –
Jacob and Joseph. What I want to discuss tonight is the actions of just one of those
men – Jacob.
Jacob was blessed – or gifted- with knowing that his death was
imminent thereby giving him the opportunity to say goodbye to his family. In
this case, with blessings. He is the first person in the Torah to have warning
of his impending death. Joseph does as well at the very end of this portion –
but he uses his time a bit differently than Jacob.
What spoke to me in this parasha was the concept of blessings.
Jacob blesses not only his 12 children but also Joseph’s children in the very
last chapters of Genesis. The blessings to his sons are in fact a mix of
blessing and prediction. The blessings to Efraim and Menashe, Joseph’s sons,
where Jacob claims these 2 grandchildren as HIS OWN sons, is something quite
different.
First
Jacob then called over his two grandchildren, and in what I just read in the
Torah, places his hands on their heads, and starts blessing JOSEPH --
giving him the famous "Hamalach" blessing (48:16), that the angel
that protected Jacob from evil should also protect Joseph's sons, and that
Jacob's name should be associated with them, along with Avraham and Yitzchak,
and they should multiply in the land.
All
these events seem inconsistent, unless we understand what they all mean...
This
is why, when Jacob claimed the sons as his own, he made sure to stress that it
was those two sons that were born in EGYPT (48:5). Their greatness and Joseph's
greatness was that they were Jews DESPITE living in Egypt. And finally,
although his hands were on the two sons, Jacob's blessing was that Joseph's
children, and anyone who has to live in a non-Jewish world, should be protected
throughout history so that we can all be proudly called the children of Avraham
and Yitzchak. The blessing that is given
is: Y’simcha Elohim k’Efraim v’Menashe,
“May God make you like Ephraim and Manasheh."
This is the same blessing that parents all over the Jewish world
give their children on Friday nights. What is special about Efraim and Menashe?
Firstly, we are taugt that they are the first pair of siblings in the Torah who
do not see each other as competitors. They actually get along! So we bestow
upon our children the legacy of peace and harmony between brothers.
Also, they didn’t lose their identity. They were the sons of an
important man in Egypt, living for much of their lives apart from any kind
Jewish community, yet they kept to their heritage. This is a blessing to
forestall complete assimilation. To learn how to live completely and fully in
multiple civilizations. This is a blessing that says you can be successful and
fulfilled regardless of where you live and what’s going on around you – and still
remain Jewish.
Girls, by the way, are also
blessed every Shabbat but with a different blessing – Yisemech Elohim
k’Sarah, Rivka, Rachel v’Leah
May God make you like Sarah, Rebecca,
Rachel and Leah
Each of these women possessed unique qualities that played
essential roles in the strength and future of our people. The Torah is filled with accounts of these
women, recording their insight, their strong and giving nature, and their
sensitivity, leadership, and special ability to inspire others. Beyond this,
all of the matriarchs were great, righteous women, who hailed from the homes of
wicked people – what we call today " a bad environment." These women
are all examples of people who recognize what needs to be done in order for
good to prevail and they DO what needs doing, regardless of the personal price.
So where are we today?
Today we, as our ancestors, live in a
world that presents us with many challenges – some personal, some tribal, some
global.
It is hard to have a discussion with
anyone in a minority group these days without the subjects of anti-Semitism,
racism, gender harassment and too many other types of discrimination being
raised.
Dr Jonathan Sarna, one of the most prominent historians of
American Judaism, wrote that “Historically,
hate-mongers and conspiracy theorists have repeatedly targeted out-groups
during times of intense social and cultural stress in the United States.” I’m sure this statement doesn’t surprise
anyone. He cites examples in his writings of acts of hatred, public suspicion
and outright acts of prejudice and violence throughout the centuries here in
the United States against not only Jews but African Americans, Mormons,
Catholics, the Irish… I could go on. Against those who act different, look
different, pray differently, speak differently.
“… with anti-Semitism back on the front page,
[these] many historical examples of Americans targeting Jews and other
out-groups during eras of intense social and cultural strain demonstrate the
importance of distinguishing symptoms from diseases. America has experienced
eras of crisis before, and Jews in America have been victimized before. In each
case, anti-Semitism has been the symptom of larger social maladies, revealing
more about the parlous [precarious] state of American society than about Jews.
“There are ways of mitigating symptoms of social
stress: policing, education, vigilance, and the like. To repair the fabric of
American society for the long-term, however, will require fresh leadership and
a renewed commitment to shared values.”
So what can we do as individuals? We can act –
participate in social discourse and social change. We can recognize that
prejudice stems from – among other things – fear and ignorance. We can be, as
all of my late grandmothers would say – Civil, polite, friendly. We can remember
to smile. We can and must teach and share ideas freely and generously and
listen to othersi, particularly those we disagree with, with respect and
openness.
I know I am asking us to do what sometimes feels
like an impossibility. But that is one
of the reasons I’m asking us to do this on the Shabbat of the Torah portion
Vayechi. Where we, today, received a blessing thousands of years ago in the
name of two brothers who were said to love each other, to get along, to treat
each other with respect, kindness and love. After all, are not we all created
B’Tzelem Elohim, in God’s image. Are we not all family – for all that means?
I will end tonight by doing something I rarely do. I
would like to bless you all. I bless my children every Shabbat – in fact I did
so just a few hours ago by phone. But I rarely bless large groups. But tonight
it feels right.
Please rise.
Y’simcha Elohim k’Efraim v’Menashe
May God make you like Ephraim and Menashe
Yisemech Elohim k’Sarah, Rivka,
Rachel v’Leah
May God make you like Sarah, Rebecca,
Rachel and Leah
Y’varech’cha Adonai V’yismeracha
May Adonai bless you, and guard
you
Ya’ehr Adonai panav
elecha v’chunecha
May the Eternal’s face shine upon you and be
gracious to you
Yissa Adonai panav
elecha, v’yasem l’cha Shalom
May the Awesome One’s
face be lifted up unto you, and give to you peace
Shabbat Shalom
