Daily Chumash & Rashi – Parshas Vayechi Shelishi: Yaakov explains his switching of the hands (Tuesday, 10th Teves)

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Shelishi

  • Yosef attempts to realign the hands of his father: When Yosef saw that his father placed right hand on the head of Ephraim, it displeased him, and he went forward to remove his father’s right hand from the head of Ephraim and place it on the head of Menashe. Yosef said to his father that it is incorrect, as Menashe is the firstborn, and he deserves the right hand on his head. Yaakov refused, and told his son “I know my son that he too will become a nation, however his younger brother will be greater than him, and will multiply amongst the nations.”
  • The blessing: Yaakov blessed the children that day, saying that the Jewish people will bless [their children] by saying “Let G-d place you like Ephraim and like Menashe” and he said Ephraim before Menashe.
  • Yisrael told Yosef “I will die, and G-d will be with you, and return you the land of your forefathers. I am giving you Shechem, one portion more than your brothers, of which I took from the hand of the Emorites.”

Q&A on Rashi

Q1: Why was Yosef displeased when Yaakov placed his right hand on Ephraim’s head?

Because Ephraim was the younger son, and Yosef expected the right hand to be on Menashe, the firstborn.

 

Q2: What does “Vayitmoch Yad Aviv” mean? (Rashi)

It means Yosef lifted and supported his father’s hand to move it from Ephraim’s head to Menashe’s head.

 

Q3: How did Yaakov respond when Yosef tried to correct him?

Yaakov said, “I know, my son, I know,” acknowledging Menashe’s status as firstborn but explaining that Ephraim would surpass him.

 

Q4: What future greatness did Yaakov foresee for Menashe? (Rashi)

That Gideon would descend from Menashe and perform miracles for Israel.

 

Q5: What future greatness did Yaakov foresee for Ephraim? (Rashi)

That Yehoshua (Joshua) would descend from Ephraim, conquer Canaan, teach Torah, and perform the miracle of stopping the sun and moon.

 

Q6: What does “his descendants will be the fill of the nations” mean? (Rashi)

It means Yehoshua’s fame would spread throughout the world due to his miraculous deeds.

 

Q7: What blessing did Yaakov establish for future generations?

That Jews would bless their children saying: “May G‑d make you like Ephraim and Menashe.”

 

Q8: Why is Ephraim mentioned before Menashe in the blessing? (Rashi)

To give Ephraim precedence in tribal order and in the dedication of the altar by the princes.

 

Q9: What special gift did Yaakov give Yosef before his death?

The city of Shechem as an extra portion beyond his brothers.

 

Q10: What does “Shechem Echad” mean according to Rashi?

It means either the actual city of Shechem or “one portion,” symbolizing Yosef’s double inheritance through his two sons.

 

Q11: What does “with my sword and bow” mean? (Rashi)

It refers either to Yaakov’s physical defense against surrounding nations after Shechem’s massacre or, allegorically, to his wisdom and prayer.

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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