Vayechi: “I Know, My Son…”: Living Is The Best Blessing

Caregiver hands
Caregiver hands

Vayechi (Genesis 47:28 ff) concludes Genesis. This book of family dysfunction, dynamics and drama ends with an epic final scene of this family’s story. The death of Jacob and Joseph, and the passionate scene of Jacob’s death bed blessing of his children. We see here the textual basis for the Ethical Will as well as the basis for the Shabbat blessing of children as enacted by Jacob blessing Ephraim and Manasseh.  Even here, the text gives us pause as Jacob crosses his right and left hands in his blessing which gave rise to Joseph being “displeased” as he tried to place the right hand on the eldest. It is here, in 48:19 that Jacob, looking at Joseph, says “I know, my son, I know”.

Jacob knows what he is doing. The younger-elder challenge is even played out here as it h as been throughout Genesis. Joseph attempts to set it right, but Jacob “knows”. One comment this passage speaks to the correctness, we may believe, of our perceptions and that, as Rabbi Twerksi in his  “Living Each Week”  reminds us that “we must always defer to those of our wise elders” (p.103). Twerksi points out that this little story speaks to the generational reality that often younger people “tend to think that they are more enlightened”. Do you remember when we were young and tried to explain our generational reality to our  parents? From rock ands roll to  cicil rights to politics, we often felt that we “knew better” and that these older people were so “out of touch”. And so now we ARE those elders and we can look back and see the truth and wisdom of Jacob’s statement.

I know, he says. As if to say, Yes, you “know” in your terms, within your context, yet we have lived and experienced aspects of life that you shall eventually experience. And it is that life experience that speaks now. “I know, my child. I know” what you are thinking and why your say what you say, but I also know what life has in store and so I do what I do  based on my experience. You too shall learn this, each in your own way and each for your own generation. Jacob’s blessing of Ephraim and Manasseh is more that just a blessing, it is a reminder, I suggest, that the life experience of elders cannot and should not be ignored. There is so much value in learning from those who have gone before. The pity is that all too often in our youth engaged society, we forget; and in forgetting, we doom ourselves to repeat the errors of the past. “We know, children, we know”.

Chazak, chazak, v’nit’chazeik

Shabbat shalom,

Rabbi Richard F Address

1 Comment

  1. Rabbi,
    I am moved to make a comparison…though a stretch….from yoiur statemen, “It is here, in [48:19] that Jacob, looking at Joseph, says “I know, my son, I know”.”

    I appreciate the import of your comment regarding Jacob…………but, I see a comparison…though tangential, that does not usually garner the same degree of respect.

    I am referring to several comments/actions, one of which was made by Rivka. If he Torah tells her, ‘ “Two nations are in your womb…., and the elder will serve the younger.”…Instead of praising all her efforts to ENSURE that Hashems words comes to pass….most commentaries and interpretations cast her in a bad light. Secondly, when Miriam shares her concerns with her brother Aaron regarding their brother Moses’ actions……..as is the norm for siblings to do…. and their concerns are legit….. particularly that Moses was marrying outside of the “tribe”……………yet – of the two concerned siblings ONLY she is punished…….
    In no way did these women’s actions conradict appropriate behavior, though interoretations try to make it appear that way.

    However, when male characters act in ways less than G-Dly…..they in no way seem to be held to the same bar – nor are they punished. ……..First – .Abraham, knowing the “ways of the world” as he expressed to Sara – causing him to ask her to lie and say she is the sister……….on how many different levels is this abhorant!!! Knowing she would likely be raped was not a deterrent to taking her along with him on his trip. This behavior is NOT punished.

    Uhhh, didn’t a close relative do the same thing to his wife??? Why not – no punishment!

    When Dinah tells her father she had been raped………his response was …..
    What lesson is learned here regarding a parent having rachmones on a daughter if preserving modesty and dignity is prime?? This is the appropriate behavior??? And his punishment is…

    How is it that instead of expecting of the men to use self restraint, are given permission to capture women and rape them…….BUT, G-D forbid…don’t cut down a fruit tree!!

    So, when Rivka makes sure the younger prevails, and when Miriam along with Aaron show concern for their brother, When Dina looks to her father for fatherly compassion, etc., etc., et.,
    How do the women find them selves on thelowsidefnthe gar, when in their own way each was saying, ” “I know, my son, I know”.”
    Just wondering. 🙂
    Laurie Dinerstein-Kurs

What are your thoughts?

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.