This weeks Parsha, Vayechi, is the last Parsha of the Book of Breishis (Genesis). The first Book of the Torah begins with the story of creation and ends with the life of our patriarch Yaakov. Yaakov came to Egypt at the age of 130, where he met up with Joseph after 22 years. Josephs first 17 years of his life were spent with his father and Yaakovs last 17 years were again spent together with Joseph in Egypt. The numerical value of the four Hebrew letters which spell the word Vayechi total 34. Vayechi means and he [Yaakov] lived. Yaakovs best years of his life, which were full of life were the 34 years he was together with Joseph. In this Parsha we read that Yaakov becomes ill, and Joseph brings his two sons, Menashe and Ephraim, to receive their grandfathers blessings. Yaakov hugs and kisses them and exclaims to his son Joseph, I had not thought that I would see your face again and now G-d let me see also your children. Yaakov places his right hand on the head of Ephraim and his left on the head of Menashe. He blesses them that they serve as a model for all Jewish parents, who would bless their sons in the future, for they will say to their children, G-d shall make you like Ephraim and Menashe. Although Menashe is older, Yaakov deliberately places his right hand on Ephraim, because Joshua, who will lead the Jewish people after Moshe and will bring them into Israel, will be descended from Ephraim. When blessing our sons before Shabbat and holidays, we place our hands on their head and recite Yaakovs blessing, G-d shall make you like Ephraim and Menashe. The blessing for daughters is, May G-d make you like Sarah, Rivkah, Rachel and Leah. It is interesting to note that Yaakov was born with, his hand holding unto the heal of Esau. Now, as he was about to pass away, Yaakov again uses his hands to bless his grandchildren. The Chassidic sage Rabbi Leib of Shpoleh, known as the Shpoler Zeida, was a man of intense fervor. He said, When I was a child of three, I saw the Baal Shem Tov and he placed his holy hand on my heart and since then I always felt warm. A man came to the doctor complaining that he wasnt feeling well. The doctor took the mans hand to check his pulse. Its my heart thats aching, not my hand, protested the patient. Let me enlighten you, replied the doctor. The best way to know the state of a mans heart is through his hands! Moshiach NOW!!!
Posted on: Tue, 30 Dec 2014 15:33:48 +0000
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