Vayechi 2023

1“And now, your two sons who have been born in Egypt prior to my arrival here to you in Egypt, they are for me (alt. belong to me), Ephraim and Menashe will be like Reuven and Shimon are to me. And myself (what happened to me), when I came from Padan, Rachael died “Alai” on me, in the land of Canaan on the way to Efrat, and I buried her there in the road to Efrat know as Beit Lechem. (Gen 48:5, 7)”

2According to Rashi, since the land of Israel was divided according to the census, there was no land gain resulting from being “Like Reuven and Shimon.” He suggests that the benefit was in being named a unique tribe. When dividing up the land of Israel “The tribe of Ephraim and the Tribe of Menashe” replaced the “Tribe of Joseph.” When enumerating and blessing his children in this Parsha, Jacob blessed Joseph and did not bless Joseph’s children individually. Neither Reuven nor Shimon received a positive end-of-life blessing from Jacob so to be like them would be a negative! Moshe did the same in his end-of-life blessing. The tribes of Menashe and Ephraim did however each have their own leadership and flag. Understanding Jacob’s declaration this way argues for the benefit of self-rule and of autonomy generally. It is interesting that Menashe was so autonomous that it split itself up into two sections with one group joining Reuven and Gad in the East Bank.

3According to the Ramban the tribes each received equal portions of land. Therefore, by making Ephraim and Menashe into individual tribes, the result was a doubling of tribal land for Joseph. In that way Joseph replaced Reuven as first born.

4Whether you agree with Rashi or the Ramban the repeated use of “Me” and “You” in these Pesukim needs interpretation. In addition, we need to understand the relationship between the death of Rachael and Jacob’s re-designation of Ephraim and Menashe.

5Rachael’s death was felt personally by Jacob and was certainly felt even more by young Joseph. The interpretive reading of the Pesukim is as follows: “My beloved Rachael, who you barely knew, died so young. I know you would have loved to have known her more. You have two sons, who I also barely know, having been born before I arrived; “And Israel saw the children of Joseph and said,” Who are these? (Ibid 8)” I bring your two sons closer to me making them mine that way bringing you closer to me as well reminding me of my beloved Rachael. I know you will understand and appreciate the love I had for your mother Rachael.

6Dedicated to the memory of my father R. Chaim Ben Pinchas Eliyahu Z’L whose Yahrzeit is next week