Vayechi: On History and Horizons
Liluei Nishmas Ita bas Chanoch Aharon Bistritzky
Few moments in Tanach are as poetic and laden with symbolism as Yacov's blessings to his sons. In Yaacov's blessing to Ephraim and Manasseh, Yoseph's sons, Yoseph and Yaacov, have a disagreement. Yaacov is nearing the end of his life; he places his hands, the right on the younger Ephraim and the left on the elder Manasseh. Yoseph attempts to correct him, reminding Yaacov of the traditional birthright and advocating for Manasseh, the firstborn. Yaacov insists on his arrangement, explaining that the younger son will be greater and deserves the distinction.
There are some basic questions in this narrative. What was Yoseph and Yaacov's disagreement? At first glance, Yaakov's answer does not answer the question; regardless of their future, Manasseh is the elder brother. Furthermore, even if Ephraim was, in fact, greater, why was he not, in reality, the firstborn?
Yaacov and Yoseph's life paths share many parallels. Both were hated by their brothers. Yaacov's rise took place in Charan when he was forced to serve Lavan, and Yoseph became great in Mitzrayim, where he began as a slave. The greatness of both Yaacov and Yoseph achieved occurred while they were in exile. Yoseph, like Yaakov, navigate their struggles and thrive despite adversity. However, Yaakov and Yosef frame their stories differently.
Yosef sheds some light on how he dealt with challenges in how he named his sons. The Alshich explains Manasseh's name, coming from the root word "nashani," meaning "has made me forget," is a testament to the strength that God gave him to retain his identity in Egypt. Manasseh represented the inner innocence and moral compass that Yosef kept despite the pain and separation of enslavement. Ephraim, on the other hand, whose name comes from the root word "Hefrani" meaning "I was fruitful," is a prayer of thanks for the capacity to flourish and to transform the "land of my suffering" into a place of spiritual growth and abundance. For Yoseph, the nostalgia and memories of his upbringing were his guiding force and gave him the strength to live in Egypt. For Yosef, Menashe is the more important elder son who guides and allows Efraim to later thrive.
Yacov, however, disagrees; he acknowledges the importance of retaining one's identity and roots, as symbolized by Manasseh. Yacov, however, sees himself in Ephraim. Ephraim represents an active, transformative presence, transforming Egypt itself into a home for Yacov and his children. As highlighted in Ephraim's character, the true purpose of exile is to engage with our present circumstances to find growth even if the environment is not ideal. Yakov views this as the highlight of his spiritual accomplishment, the elder son, if you will, not where he came from but his engaging the present, heads on and as it is.
Our personal narratives and Jewish identity must be anchored in tradition to grow and thrive; we need to maintain guiding figures and time-honored principles. Yet, this retrospective view only partially captures our journey. The true challenge and ultimate goal for exile posits the parsha, is the generation of something new, and that within exile is the opportunity for the birth and rebirth of a nation. This duality, the blend of reverence for the past and the embrace of the opportunities of the present forms the core of our spiritual and personal development and is the true legacy of Yaakov.
Adapted from “Life Talks on the Parsha By Rabbi Adin Even-Israel (Steinsaltz)”