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Vayechi “And he lived” 02 Jan 2010 Genesis 47:28-50:26 1 Kings 2:1-12 1 Peter 1:3-9
Our Torah portion opens with the words, “And Jacob lived.” It is now seventeen years since Jacob found that Joseph was alive and his spirit was revived and joy came back to his life. In this torah portion we find him coming to the end of his life and he blesses all his children including Ephraim and Manasseh, Joseph’s sons. He not only blesses these two boys but he goes ahead and adopts them as his own. Today in many Jewish homes parents bless their sons and daughters. The blessing for the sons is:
The blessing for daughters is:
Why is this done? Is it something just to have a wonderful tradition to perform on Erev Shabbat? Absolutely not! It is done to show that we bless our sons and daughters as role models for the new generations to come. Just as Ephraim and Manasseh who were born in exile and maintained their heritage, moral standards and commandments that G-d gave to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, so we pass on the heritage, moral standards and commandments that we have received from G-d thru our parents or thru someone who heard the call to share the love of G-d and the good news of Messiah Yeshua to others. The book of Proverbs tells us to raise up a child in the Lord so when he/she grows up he/she will not depart from the commandments of G-d. So bless your children, pass on the heritage and love of G-d to them, so they too will not depart from His commandments, and one day will pass it on to their children and others whom the Lord our G-d brings into their lives, to tell of the good news of the love of G-d and the salvation of our Messiah. Shalom U’Bracha Shavua Tov
Rabbi Z.
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