A Thought On Parshas VaYechi
A Thought On Parshas VaYechi
"...va'yi'karae ba'hem sh'mi..."
"...let them be called by my name..." (48:14)
Yaakov Avinu blessed his descendants in an unusual manner. In many other places, children are given the blessing of growth and proliferation. HaShem too blessed the patriarchs with the bracha of being fruitful and multiplying. Whereas Yakov also wishes upon his progeny that they become many (va'yidgu l'rov), he seems to emphasize here the feature of being called by his name. Other than the fact that we are sometimes referred to as "Children of Yaakov" or "Children of Israel", what does this particular bracha intend?
The Bechor Shor suggests that "name calling" is an addition to the Divine blessing of being great and many. He intended that his descendants, wherever they went and however many they became, would always be identified with the Patriarchs. Yaakov wanted it to be clear to the nations of the world who will encounter Jews that "these are definitely the seed of Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov who have been blessed by the Creator."
The Bechor Shor connects this to the words of the prophet Yishayahu (61:9) who said, "all who will see them will recognize them, that they are the seed of those blessed by HaShem."
Whereas the Avos were told that their descendants would be a great and populous people, that promise was fulfilled earlier in our history, and was manifest at different stages of our nation's experiences. What Yaakov introduced was not a guarantee of quantity but rather a forecast of quality. Even in exile, where our nation is small and scattered, we continue to make our mark and contribution. Hopefully, we are identified through our Patriarchal legacy of being kind, compassionate and contributing to the good of society. When Jews conduct themselves with grace, with ethics, with integrity and with respectable productivity, then our name is a fulfillment of the blessing of Yaakov, who longed for us to be thought of as the goodly and G-dly nation of Yaakov.
With such wholesome and positive thoughts, the Bechor Shor closes his commentary on
Sefer Bereishis. May his blessed and holy words continue to illuminate us in the weeks ahead. Good Shabbos. D Fox
"...va'yi'karae ba'hem sh'mi..."
"...let them be called by my name..." (48:14)
Yaakov Avinu blessed his descendants in an unusual manner. In many other places, children are given the blessing of growth and proliferation. HaShem too blessed the patriarchs with the bracha of being fruitful and multiplying. Whereas Yakov also wishes upon his progeny that they become many (va'yidgu l'rov), he seems to emphasize here the feature of being called by his name. Other than the fact that we are sometimes referred to as "Children of Yaakov" or "Children of Israel", what does this particular bracha intend?
The Bechor Shor suggests that "name calling" is an addition to the Divine blessing of being great and many. He intended that his descendants, wherever they went and however many they became, would always be identified with the Patriarchs. Yaakov wanted it to be clear to the nations of the world who will encounter Jews that "these are definitely the seed of Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov who have been blessed by the Creator."
The Bechor Shor connects this to the words of the prophet Yishayahu (61:9) who said, "all who will see them will recognize them, that they are the seed of those blessed by HaShem."
Whereas the Avos were told that their descendants would be a great and populous people, that promise was fulfilled earlier in our history, and was manifest at different stages of our nation's experiences. What Yaakov introduced was not a guarantee of quantity but rather a forecast of quality. Even in exile, where our nation is small and scattered, we continue to make our mark and contribution. Hopefully, we are identified through our Patriarchal legacy of being kind, compassionate and contributing to the good of society. When Jews conduct themselves with grace, with ethics, with integrity and with respectable productivity, then our name is a fulfillment of the blessing of Yaakov, who longed for us to be thought of as the goodly and G-dly nation of Yaakov.
With such wholesome and positive thoughts, the Bechor Shor closes his commentary on
Sefer Bereishis. May his blessed and holy words continue to illuminate us in the weeks ahead. Good Shabbos. D Fox
posted by Rabbi Dr. Fox at 6:06 PM
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