Daily Chumash & Rashi – Parshas Vayechi Sheiyni: Yaakov blesses Efraim & Menashe (Monday, 9th Teves)

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Sheiyni

  • Yaakov’s eyes were getting old and as a result he could not see. The sons of Yosef were brought to Yaakov, and he kissed them and hugged them. Yaakov remarked “I had not even dreamed of seeing you and now I see your children.” Yosef removed the children from Yaakov’s knees and prostrated to the ground.
  • Yaakov switches his hands: Yosef brought both sons, and positioned Ephraim to his right, to the left of Yisrael, and Menashe to his left, to the right of Yisrael. Yisrael placed his right hand on the head of Ephraim and his left hand on the head of Menashe. He moved his hand with intelligence, as Menashe was the firstborn.
  • The blessing: Yaakov blessed Yosef and said “The G-d who has been with me and my forefathers, the angel who has redeemed me from all evil, he should bless the children and they should be called by my name and the name of my forefathers, Avraham and Yitzchak. They shall multiply on earth like fish.”

Q&A on Rashi

Q1: Why was Yaakov unable to see clearly when Yosef brought his sons?

Because his eyesight was impaired due to old age.

 

Q2: What does “Lo Pilalti” mean when Yaakov says, “I dared not even hope”? (Rashi)

It means “I did not dare to entertain the thought,” and the root connotes forming an opinion or thinking, as in “Pelilah” (judgment or advice).

 

Q3: Why did Yosef withdraw his sons from between Yaakov’s knees? (Rashi)

After Yaakov kissed them, Yosef moved them to position Ephraim at Yaakov’s left and Menashe at his right for the blessing.

 

Q4: How did Yosef position Ephraim and Menashe before Yaakov? (Rashi)

Ephraim was placed to Yosef’s right (Yaakov’s left), and Menashe to Yosef’s left (Yaakov’s right), so the firstborn would be at Yaakov’s right hand.

 

Q5: What does “Sikel et Yadav” mean when Yaakov crossed his hands? (Rashi)

It means “he made his hands wise,” acting deliberately and intelligently, knowing Menashe was the firstborn but choosing to bless Ephraim with the right hand.

 

Q6: Why did Yaakov cross his hands instead of following birth order? (Rashi)

Because he foresaw that Ephraim’s descendants would be greater than Menashe’s.

 

Q7: Whom did Yaakov bless when he said, “May G‑d bless the lads”? (Rashi)

He blessed Ephraim and Menashe.

 

Q8: What does “the angel who delivers me” refer to? (Rashi)

It refers to the angel usually sent to Yaakov in times of trouble, as in the vision where the angel said, “I am the G‑d of Bethel.”

 

Q9: Why did Yaakov bless Ephraim and Menashe to multiply like fish? (Rashi)

Because fish are fruitful and multiply and are not affected by the evil eye.

About The Author

Rabbi Yaakov Goldstein is a 6th generation descendent of the famous Chief Rabbi of Izhmir, Rav Yehoshua Avraham Krispin, who authored a number of Sefarim, and was a colleague of Rav Chaim Falagi, and father in-law of the Pesach Hadvir. He currently lives with his wife Shayna, and twelve children K”H, in Tzfas, Israel. Rabbi Goldstein received Semicha from Rabbi Schneur Zalman Labkowski of the Tomchei Temimim headquarters in 2005 and served as a chaplain in the Lotar/Kalatz and K9 unit of the IDF from years 2005-2008. He is also a certified Shochet, and has performed Hashgacha work in slaughterhouses. Rabbi Goldstein is the director of Shulchanaruchharav.com, the world’s leading web-based Halacha database, and is the director of the Home Study Semicha Program, a self-study web-based Semicha program. He is a prolific author of over 50 Sefarim studied by a wide range of readers throughout the world, which is used regularly in Semicha programs around the globe. He is a world renowned Posek, answering questions to a web-based market, and serves as a local Posek, Rav, and Lecturer, in the Tzemach Tzedek community Shul in Tzefas, Israel. His many classes can be heard both from his website, Vimeo and YouTube channel. Students can join live to classes given in the Tzemach Tzedek Shul, through the “בית חבד צפת Chabad Tsfat” YouTube channel.

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