Hear O Israel - Vayechi

Hear O' Israel
Parshat Vayechi

This week we read the final portion of Genesis. The portion of Vayechi chronicles Jacob's blessings to his children prior to his passing. The portion also documents the passing of all the tribes and the transition to the servitude which we read about in the book of Exodus.

The Torah describes how Yackov gathers his children to bless them. The verse states, (Genesis 49:1) "Then Yackov called for his sons and said, "Assemble yourselves and I will tell you what will befall you in the End of Days. Gather yourselves and listen, O sons of Yackov and listen to Israel your father".

According to the Midrash Rabbah (Bereishit Rabah), Yackov wished to bless his children and tell them when the Moshiach (Messiah) would arrive. G-d did not want him to divulge this information and withheld the knowledge from Jacob. When Jacob realized that G-d was withholding this prophecy from him, he was concerned that perhaps one of his sons was unworthy and a non-believer. When he expressed his concern to his sons they responded with the famous words "Hear O' Israel (their father), the Lord is our G-d, the Lord is One - Shema Yisrael, Hashem Elokeinu, Hashem Echad". Jacob then responded, "Blessed be the name of His glorious kingdom for ever and ever-Baruch Shem Malchuto Leolam Vaed". It was then that Jacob realized that G-d just did not want him to reveal the Messianic time. 

This fascinating explanation of the verses traces the root of what became the most central prayer in all of Judaism. The Shema Yisrael is also in the Torah itself later on in the book of Devarim (6:4). The Shema Yisrael prayer is the highlight of the Yom Kippur service, the weekly and shabbat prayers, and also the final prayer a Jew says prior to their passing from this world. From a young age, children are taught the Shema Yisrael as it holds such a special place in Jewish liturgy and history.

Perhaps there is also a parenting lesson in this. Sometimes we worry excessively about our children and whether they are doing well or not. We concoct in our own minds so many scenarios and possibilities of how they are not doing well or how they may be failing.

Perhaps the message is that we must have some faith in our children. While we must certainly be vigilant and parent well, we must also have trust in our children and students. We must believe in the education and the love we have given them. Sometimes, we just need to really listen to our kids as they say, "Listen mom and dad, we're really ok".

Shabbat Shalom