(for Parshat VaYechi)
i
Ishmael is the older son. Abraham loves Ishmael first.
Esau is the older son. Isaac loves Esau most.
Of course the older son is loved:
he willl carry the family.
*
But God tells Abraham: your seed will be named through Isaac.
And Jacob, not Esau, receives Isaac’s blessing.
Isaac and Jacob become the patriarchs of Israel.
The younger son takes hold.
ii
Jacob has grandsons: Menashe and Efraim,
the sons of Joseph, Jacob’s beloved.
Menashe is Joseph’s older son.
Efraim is the younger.
Jacob blesses Efraim—the younger one—first.
Jacob tells Joseph: Efraim is younger,
but he will be the greater one.
*
Then Jacob’s family becomes the Children of Israel,
The nation of Israel begins.
iii
You are a mother, a father, a son:
you live in fixed roles within a family.
But in a nation, your role is the personal greatness you bring to bear.
*
Jacob reaches beyond the family.
Jacob reaches to the person:
not to the youngest son Efrayim,
but to the great one Efrayim.
*
The person comes forth.
A nation springs forth.
____
Shabbat Shalom, Abe
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Please pray for the premature infants Kalev Ezra and Baer Yakov ben Emunah. Please continue to pray for Achinoam Rina bat Avital Hodaya, Batya Shira bat ChasidaAhuvah Rachel bat Orah and for Rachel Tovah bat Yehudit Esther
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