by Rabbi Daniel Huebner

Based on the Torah reading for this week.

This week we finish reading the Book of Genesis. Before Jacob passed away, he summoned Joseph to his bed. Joseph arrived with his two sons in tow. Jacob wanted to bless them, and the Torah puts it like this: "And he blessed Joseph and said . . . may the angel who redeemed me from all harm bless the children, and may they be called by my name and the name of my fathers, Abraham and Isaac, and may they multiply abundantly like fish, in the midst of the land."

The Torah says that Jacob blessed Joseph, but he never did bless Joseph. He blessed Joseph's children. Where was Joseph's blessing?

The answer is that a father's greatest blessing is the one he receives for his children. It is not that a father sacrifices his blessing for the sake of his children. It is that a father receives greater pleasure from a blessing of his children than from his own blessing. He would much rather see his children succeed than see himself succeed. He derives more from seeing his children prosper than seeing himself prosper. His success is his children's success. Jacob blessed Joseph much more by blessing His children.

After Jacob finished his blessing, Joseph informed Jacob that he had placed his right hand on the younger son and his left hand on the older son, giving preference to the younger. Jacob assured Joseph that he knew this and deliberately gave preference to the younger son, leaving Joseph disturbed.

Many years earlier Jacob had given preference to his youngest son, Joseph, leaving his brothers jealous, and ended with him being sold into slavery. It is, therefore, not surprising that Joseph would be particularly sensitive to this. When he saw his father preferring the younger son, he sought to correct it.

But what was Jacob thinking? He was heading down the same path that had led to the destructive jealousy between his own children. Even when he was notified, he doubled down and insisted that he was right. What was he thinking?

Even after being told that Ephraim was younger than Menashe, he went out of his way to prefer Ephraim. After being told that Menashe was older, Jacob, "blessed them on that day, saying, 'With you, Israel will bless, saying, 'May G-d make you like Ephraim and like Manasseh,' and he placed Ephraim before Menashe." The Torah clearly states that Jacob placed the younger one first even after being told that he was younger.

In English, the word "you" is both singular and plural. In Hebrew, there are different words for you in the singular and in the plural. When Jacob blessed them and said, "With you, Israel will bless," he used the word for you in the singular. If he was talking to both brothers, why did he not address them in the plural?

Jacob's subtle message here was that Joseph's two sons were united like one. I know, Jacob said to Joseph, that Menashe is the older one. And I deliberately placed my right hand on the younger one because he deserves it. But know that your children are so close that there can be no jealousy between them, Menashe would respond to my right hand on his brother's head precisely as he would respond to my right hand on his head. From his perspective, it is all the same to him. His brother's fortune is his fortune.

You and your brothers did not have that kind of relationship. Therefore, it ended tragically. But I want you to know that your sons are different. They have the close relationship that any parent would desire for their children.

There was no greater blessing for Joseph. When we hear that our children are not only successful but also deeply connected, our pleasure is boundless.

May we find that kind of unity so that G-d could take such joy and pleasure from us—His children. And may we remember that when we do well and become inspiring examples of morality, kindness, and love in our homes and communities, and when we are united, G-d—our Father in Heaven—kvells, rejoicing without end.

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Rabbi Daniel and Raizel Huebner moved to San Miguel from New Jersey in 2018 with their family to start Chabad SMA. They enjoy living in San Miguel and integrating with the community through classes, Jewish activities and social events.

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