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Save "Vayechi ~ Blessings for Yosef"
Vayechi ~ Blessings for Yosef
וַיִּקַּ֣ח יוֹסֵף֮ אֶת־שְׁנֵיהֶם֒ אֶת־אֶפְרַ֤יִם בִּֽימִינוֹ֙ מִשְּׂמֹ֣אל יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְאֶת־מְנַשֶּׁ֥ה בִשְׂמֹאל֖וֹ מִימִ֣ין יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיַּגֵּ֖שׁ אֵלָֽיו׃
וַיִּשְׁלַח֩ יִשְׂרָאֵ֨ל אֶת־יְמִינ֜וֹ וַיָּ֨שֶׁת עַל־רֹ֤אשׁ אֶפְרַ֙יִם֙ וְה֣וּא הַצָּעִ֔יר וְאֶת־שְׂמֹאל֖וֹ עַל־רֹ֣אשׁ מְנַשֶּׁ֑ה שִׂכֵּל֙ אֶת־יָדָ֔יו כִּ֥י מְנַשֶּׁ֖ה הַבְּכֽוֹר׃
וַיְבָ֥רֶךְ אֶת־יוֹסֵ֖ף וַיֹּאמַ֑ר הָֽאֱלֹהִ֡ים אֲשֶׁר֩ הִתְהַלְּכ֨וּ אֲבֹתַ֤י לְפָנָיו֙ אַבְרָהָ֣ם וְיִצְחָ֔ק הָֽאֱלֹהִים֙ הָרֹעֶ֣ה אֹתִ֔י מֵעוֹדִ֖י עַד־הַיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּֽה׃
הַמַּלְאָךְ֩ הַגֹּאֵ֨ל אֹתִ֜י מִכׇּל־רָ֗ע יְבָרֵךְ֮ אֶת־הַנְּעָרִים֒ וְיִקָּרֵ֤א בָהֶם֙ שְׁמִ֔י וְשֵׁ֥ם אֲבֹתַ֖י אַבְרָהָ֣ם וְיִצְחָ֑ק וְיִדְגּ֥וּ לָרֹ֖ב בְּקֶ֥רֶב הָאָֽרֶץ׃
וַיַּ֣רְא יוֹסֵ֗ף כִּי־יָשִׁ֨ית אָבִ֧יו יַד־יְמִינ֛וֹ עַל־רֹ֥אשׁ אֶפְרַ֖יִם וַיֵּ֣רַע בְּעֵינָ֑יו וַיִּתְמֹ֣ךְ יַד־אָבִ֗יו לְהָסִ֥יר אֹתָ֛הּ מֵעַ֥ל רֹאשׁ־אֶפְרַ֖יִם עַל־רֹ֥אשׁ מְנַשֶּֽׁה׃
וַיֹּ֧אמֶר יוֹסֵ֛ף אֶל־אָבִ֖יו לֹא־כֵ֣ן אָבִ֑י כִּי־זֶ֣ה הַבְּכֹ֔ר שִׂ֥ים יְמִינְךָ֖ עַל־רֹאשֽׁוֹ׃
וַיְמָאֵ֣ן אָבִ֗יו וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ יָדַ֤עְתִּֽי בְנִי֙ יָדַ֔עְתִּי גַּם־ה֥וּא יִֽהְיֶה־לְּעָ֖ם וְגַם־ה֣וּא יִגְדָּ֑ל וְאוּלָ֗ם אָחִ֤יו הַקָּטֹן֙ יִגְדַּ֣ל מִמֶּ֔נּוּ וְזַרְע֖וֹ יִהְיֶ֥ה מְלֹֽא־הַגּוֹיִֽם׃
וַיְבָ֨רְכֵ֜ם בַּיּ֣וֹם הַהוּא֮ לֵאמוֹר֒ בְּךָ֗ יְבָרֵ֤ךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר יְשִֽׂמְךָ֣ אֱלֹהִ֔ים כְּאֶפְרַ֖יִם וְכִמְנַשֶּׁ֑ה וַיָּ֥שֶׂם אֶת־אֶפְרַ֖יִם לִפְנֵ֥י מְנַשֶּֽׁה׃
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ אֶל־יוֹסֵ֔ף הִנֵּ֥ה אָנֹכִ֖י מֵ֑ת וְהָיָ֤ה אֱלֹהִים֙ עִמָּכֶ֔ם וְהֵשִׁ֣יב אֶתְכֶ֔ם אֶל־אֶ֖רֶץ אֲבֹתֵיכֶֽם׃
וַאֲנִ֞י נָתַ֧תִּֽי לְךָ֛ שְׁכֶ֥ם אַחַ֖ד עַל־אַחֶ֑יךָ אֲשֶׁ֤ר לָקַ֙חְתִּי֙ מִיַּ֣ד הָֽאֱמֹרִ֔י בְּחַרְבִּ֖י וּבְקַשְׁתִּֽי׃ {פ}
Joseph took the two of them, Ephraim with his right hand—to Israel’s left—and Manasseh with his left hand—to Israel’s right—and brought them close to him.
But Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on Ephraim’s head, though he was the younger, and his left hand on Manasseh’s head—thus crossing his hands—although Manasseh was the first-born.
And he blessed Joseph, saying,“The God in whose ways my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked,The God who has been my shepherd from my birth to this day—
The Angel who has redeemed me from all harm—Bless the lads.In them may my name be recalled,And the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac,And may they be teeming multitudes upon the earth.”
When Joseph saw that his father was placing his right hand on Ephraim’s head, he thought it wrong; so he took hold of his father’s hand to move it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s.
“Not so, Father,” Joseph said to his father, “for the other is the first-born; place your right hand on his head.”
But his father objected, saying, “I know, my son, I know. He too shall become a people, and he too shall be great. Yet his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his offspring shall be plentiful enough for nations.”
So he blessed them that day, saying, “By you shall Israel invoke blessings, saying: God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh.” Thus he put Ephraim before Manasseh.
Then Israel said to Joseph, “I am about to die; but God will be with you and bring you back to the land of your fathers.
And now, I assign to you one portion [Shechem] more than to your brothers, which I wrested from the Amorites with my sword and bow.”
~ What is this moment? What is happening?
~ Why is Yaakov being named Israel at this moment?
~ What are the blessings that Yaakov is giving Yosef?
~ What parts aren't clear?
ויאמר אחר שברך את יוסף:
And said. After he blessed Yoseif.
ויברך את יוסף ולא הוצרך בזה לראיה ולא לחבוק ולא נשיקה ולא הזכיר מה היתה הברכה:
He blessed Yoseif. Scripture does not relate the contents of this blessing.

~ Sforno sees that the scene of the first blessing, in which Israel blesses Efrayim and Menashe, has a hidden blessing for Yosef. How does he see it? Where does he add a period?

ויברך את יוסף היא ברכת הבנים היא ברכת האב.
ויברך את יוסף, “he blessed Joseph.” A blessing given to the sons is automatically also a blessing for their father. (Rash’bam)

~ How does the Chizkuni reinterpret this as a blessing to Yosef?

~ Which of the two possibilities you thought at first?

ואני נתתי לך. לְפִי שֶׁאַתָּה טוֹרֵחַ לְהִתְעַסֵּק בִּקְבוּרָתִי, וְגַם אֲנִי נָתַתִּי לְךָ נַחֲלָה שֶׁתִּקָּבֵר בָּהּ, וְאֵי זוֹ? זוֹ שְׁכֶם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר, וְאֶת עַצְמוֹת יוֹסֵף אֲשֶׁר הֶעֱלוּ מִמִּצְרַיִם קָבְרוּ בִשְׁכֶם (יהושע כ"ד):
ואני נתתי לך MOREOVER I HAVE GIVEN TO THEE — Because you will take the trouble to engage in my burial “I” give you an inheritance in which you will be buried. And which was this? Shechem, as it is said, (Joshua 24:32) “And the bones of Joseph which the children of Israel brought up out of Egypt, buried they in Shechem”.
שכם אחד על אחיך. שְׁכֶם מַמָּשׁ, הִיא תִּהְיֶה לְךָ חֵלֶק אֶחָד יְתֵרָה עַל אַחֶיךָ:
שכם אחד על אחיך Jacob meant by the word שכם the actual city of Shechem and said: this shall be to you one portion additional to what you will receive together with your brothers.
(ג) בחרבי ובקשתי. כְּשֶׁהָרְגוּ שִׁמְעוֹן וְלֵוִי אֶת אַנְשֵׁי שְׁכֶם נִתְכַּנְּסוּ כָּל סְבִיבוֹתֵיהֶם לְהִזְדַּוֵּג לָהֶם, וְחָגַר יַעֲקֹב כְּלֵי מִלְחָמָה כְּנֶגְדָּן; דָּבָר אַחֵר שְׁכֶם אַחַד הוּא הַבְּכוֹרָה, שֶׁיִּטְּלוּ בָנָיו שְׁנֵי חֲלָקִים, וּשְׁכֶם לְשׁוֹן חֵלֶק הוּא, וְהַרְבֵּה יֵשׁ לוֹ דּוֹמִים בַּמִּקְרָא כִּי תְּשִׁיתֵמוֹ שֶׁכֶם (תהילים כ"א) – תָּשִׁית שׂוֹנְאַי לְפָנַי לַחֲלָקִים; אֲחַלְּקָה שְׁכֶם (שם ס'), דֶּרֶךְ יְרַצְּחוּ שֶׁכְמָה (הושע ו') – אִישׁ חֶלְקוֹ; לְעָבְדוֹ שְׁכֶם אֶחָד (צפניה ג'):
(3) בחרבי ובקשתי WITH MY SWORD AND WITH MY BOW — When Simeon and Levi slew the inhabitants of Shechem all the surrounding nations gathered together to join in battle against them and Jacob girded on his weapons to war against them (cf. Genesis Rabbah 80:10) Another explanation of this verse: שכם אחד ONE PORTION [ABOVE THY BRETHREN] — this refers to the birthright (Genesis Rabbah 97:6): that Joseph’s children should receive two portions when Canaan would be divided amongst the tribes (cf. Deuteronomy 60:17; Joseph therefore was to be regarded as the first-born). The word שכם signifies portion. “For thou wilt make them שכם” i.e. thou wilt place my enemies before me in portions (thou wilt scatter them before me); (Deuteronomy 60:8) “I will divide שכם the portion”; (Hosea 6:9) “on the way they murder שכמה” i.e. each man kills someone as his own portion; (Zephaniah 3:9) “to serve him as though they were all but one portion (שכם)” i.e. to serve him unitedly.

~ What is Rashi's first explanation for the word "Shechem"? What happened in Shechem in Genesis? In that context, what or who are sword and bow?

~ What happened in Shechem in the book of Joshua?

~ What is Rashi's second explanation?

וְאוֹמֵר וַאֲנִי נָתַתִּי לְךָ שְׁכֶם אַחַד עַל אַחֶיךָ אֲשֶׁר לָקַחְתִּי מִיַּד הָאֱמוֹרִי בְּחַרְבִּי וּבְקַשְׁתִּי וְכִי בְּחַרְבּוֹ וּבְקַשְׁתּוֹ לָקַח וַהֲלֹא כְּבָר נֶאֱמַר כִּי לֹא בְקַשְׁתִּי אֶבְטָח וְחַרְבִּי לֹא תוֹשִׁיעֵנִי אֶלָּא חַרְבִּי זוֹ תְּפִלָּה קַשְׁתִּי זוֹ בַּקָּשָׁה
The baraita cites additional related verses: And with regard to Jacob’s bequest to Joseph, the verse states: “Moreover I have given to you one portion above your brothers, which I took out of the hand of the Amorite with my sword and with my bow” (Genesis 48:22). The baraita explains the verse: But is it so that Jacob took the portion with his sword and with his bow? But isn’t it already stated: “Through You do we push down our adversaries; through Your name do we trample those that rise against us. For I trust not in my bow, neither can my sword save me” (Psalms 44:6–7)? Rather, what is the meaning of “with my sword”? This is referring to prayer. What is the meaning of “with my bow”? This is referring to petition. This concludes the baraita.

~ How does the Talmud understand Shechem, Sword and Bow?

~ What do you make of this? Why would the rabbinic mind prefer this reading?

וְזֶה עִקַּר כְּלֵי־זֵינוֹ, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב (בראשית מח): בְּחַרְבִּי וּבְקַשְׁתִּי. וּפֵרֵשׁ רַשִׁ"י: תְּפִלָּה וּבַקָּשָׁה. וּכְמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב (תהילים מ״ד:ז׳): כִּי לֹא בְקַשְׁתִּי אֶבְטָח וְכוּ' בֵּאלֹהִים הִלַּלְנוּ, בְּחִינַת וּתְּהִלָּתִי אֶחֱטָם לָךְ:
And [prayer] is [the Mashiach's] essential weapon, as is written (Genesis 48:22), “with my sword and my bow.” Rashi explains: prayer and entreaty. The same idea is expressed in the verse (Psalms 44:7, 9), “For I trust not in my bow, nor shall my sword save me…[but rather,] in those who praise the Lord all day long.” This corresponds to “For My praise, echtom from you.”

~ Note how Reb Nachman of Bretzlav continues the idea in the Talmud and in Rashi towards the messianic age.

Nachman of Bretzlav: 1772 - 1810 CE, Poland. He was a great-grandson of the founder of Chassidut, R. Yisrael Ba'al Shem Tov

(א) ב וְזֶה הַכְּלִי־זַיִן צָרִיךְ לְקַבֵּל עַל־יְדֵי בְּחִינַת יוֹסֵף, הַיְנוּ שְׁמִירַת הַבְּרִית, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב (תהילים מ״ה:ד׳): חֲגוֹר חַרְבְּךָ עַל יָרֵךְ. וּכְמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב (תהילים קל״ב:י״א): מִפְּרִי בִטְנְךָ אָשִׁית לְכִסֵּא לָךְ – זֶה בְּחִינַת מָשִׁיחַ, בְּחִינַת תְּפִלָּה. אִם יִשְׁמְרוּ בָנֶיךָ בְּרִיתִי, הַיְנוּ עַל־יְדֵי בְּחִינַת יוֹסֵף.

(ב) וְיוֹסֵף שֶׁשָּׁמַר אֶת הַבְּרִית, נָטַל אֶת הַבְּכוֹרָה, שֶׁהוּא בְּחִינַת עֲבוֹדַת הַתְּפִלָּה*, בְּחִינוֹת פִּי שְׁנַיִם, כִּי הַתְּפִלָּה הוּא פִּי שְׁנַיִם. שְׁנַיִם, שֶׁיֵּשׁ בָּהֶם שִׁבְחוֹ שֶׁל מָקוֹם וּשְׁאֵלַת צְרָכָיו. וְהוּא בְּחִינו‍ֹת (שם קמט): וְחֶרֶב פִּיפִיּוֹת בְּיָדָם, בְּחִינוֹת שְׁתֵּי פִּיּוֹת, בְּחִינוֹת פִּי שְׁנַיִם. וְנִטַּל מֵרְאוּבֵן עַל־יְדֵי שֶׁחִלֵּל יְצוּעֵי אָבִיו, כִּי הִיא תָּלוּי בִּשְׁמִירַת הַבְּרִית:

(1) 2. Now, this weapon must be received by means of the aspect of Yosef—i.e., guarding the brit (Covenant), as in (Psalms 45:4), “Gird your sword upon your thigh.” It is also written (Psalms 132:11, 12), “Of your offspring I will set upon your throne”—this refers to Mashiach, who is the aspect of prayer—“if your children will guard My brit”—by the means of the aspect of Yosef.

(2) Yosef, who guarded the brit, gained the rights of the firstborn. This corresponds to the divine service of prayer, which is an aspect of the double portion [inherited by the firstborn]. For prayer is itself twofold, as it is comprised of both praise of God and requesting one’s needs. This corresponds to “a double-edged sword in their hand” (Psalms 149:6) —i.e., two edges, a double portion. It was taken away from Reuven, because he defiled his father’s bed (Genesis 49:4) ; for [the birthright] is dependent upon guarding the brit .

~ What is "guarding the brit"?

~ How does Reb Nachman reinterpret what means to be Yosef? Can anyone be a Yosef in this reading?

~ How do private actions impact prayer?

(א) ג וּמִי שֶׁזָּכָה לַחֶרֶב הַזֶּה, צָרִיךְ לֵידַע אֵיךְ לִלְחֹם עִם הַחֶרֶב, שֶׁלֹּא יַטֶּה אוֹתָהּ לְיָמִין אוֹ לִשְׂמֹאל, וְשֶׁיְּהֵא קוֹלֵעַ אֶל הַשַּׂעֲרָה וְלֹא יַחֲטִא:

(ב) וְזֶה אִי אֶפְשָׁר אֶלָּא עַל־יְדֵי בְּחִינוֹת מִשְׁפָּט, כִּי מִשְׁפָּט הוּא עַמּוּדָא דְּאֶמְצִעוּתָא, הַיְנוּ שֶׁקּוֹלֵעַ עִם כְּלֵי זֵינוֹ אֶל הַמָּקוֹם הַצָּרִיךְ, וְאֵינוֹ מַטֶּה לְיָמִין וְלֹא לִשְׂמֹאל אֶלָּא לָאֶמְצַע. וְזֶה בְּחִינַת (תהלים קיב): יְכַלְכֵּל דְּבָרָיו בְּמִשְׁפָּט.

(ג) וּבִשְׁבִיל זֶה קִבֵּל יוֹסֵף אֶת הַבְּכוֹרָה דַּוְקָא מִיַּעֲקֹב, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב (בראשית מח): וַאֲנִי נָתַתִּי לְךָ וְכוּ' – אֲנִי דַּיְקָא, שֶׁהוּא בְּחִינַת מִשְׁפָּט. וְזֶה (תהלים פא): כִּי חֹק לְיִשְׂרָאֵל הוּא, בְּחִינַת בְּרִית, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב: חֹק בִּשְׁאֵרוֹ שָׂם. מִשְׁפָּט לֵאלֹהֵי יַעֲקֹב, הַיְנוּ שֶׁצָּרִיךְ יוֹסֵף לְקַבֵּל זֹאת הַחֶרֶב מִבְּחִינַת מִשְׁפָּט, כְּדֵי שֶׁיְּכַלְכֵּל דְּבָרָיו בַּמִּשְׁפָּט. וְזֶה (תהלים עב): מִשְׁפָּטֶיךָ לְמֶלֶךְ תֵּן, שֶׁמָּשִׁיחַ יְקַבֵּל מִבְּחִינַת מִשְׁפָּט:

(1) 3. One who is worthy of this sword must understand how to do battle with it. He should not deflect it to the right or to the left, but be able to “strike at a hair and not miss” (Judges 20:16).

(2) And this is impossible without the attribute of mishpat (justice). For mishpat is the center pillar (Tikkuney Zohar, Introduction 7a). That is, to strike with one’s weapon at the precise point, inclining to neither the right nor the left, but at the center. This corresponds to “He orders his d’varav (affairs) with mishpat” (Psalms 112:5). {“It is a chok (statute) for Israel, a mishpat of the Lord of Yaakov” (Psalms 81:5).}

(3) This is the reason Yosef received the rights of the firstborn specifically from Yaakov, as in (Genesis 48:22), “I have given you….” “I,” <because Yaakov is> the aspect of mishpat. And this is: “It is a chok for Israel.” <“Chok”> suggests brit, as in (Shabbat 137b): A chok was placed on his flesh. [Therefore,] “… a mishpat of the Lord of Yaakov.” Yosef must receive this sword from the aspect of mishpat, so that he might “order his words with mishpat .” This is the meaning of (Psalms 72:1), “O Lord, give Your mishpatim to the king”—i.e., that Mashiach will receive from the aspect of mishpat .

~ How does personal prayer is impacted by the aspect of justice?

גַּם הָיָה כֹּחַ בְּיָדוֹ לִתֵּן חֵלֶק מֵחֶלְקֵי עוֹלָם לְיוֹסֵף, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב (בראשית מ״ח:כ״ב): וַאֲנִי נָתַתִּי לְךָ שְׁכֶם אַחַד עַל אַחֶיךָ וְכוּ', כִּי עַל־יְדֵי תְּפִלָּתוֹ הָיָה מַשְׁפִּיעַ חִיּוּת לְכָל שְׁלשָׁה חֶלְקֵי עוֹלָם, שֶׁהֵם עוֹלָם הַשָּׁפָל וְעוֹלָם הַכּוֹכָבִים וְעוֹלָם הַמַּלְאָכִים. וְזֶה: שְׁכֶ"ם: שָׁפָל, כּוֹכָב, מַלְאָךְ, כִּי כָּל זֶה זָכָה עַל־יְדֵי תְּפִלָּתוֹ, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב (שם): אֲשֶׁר לָקַחְתִּי מִיַּד וְכוּ' בִּתְפִלָּתִי וּבַקָּשָׁתִי:
[Yaakov] also had the power to give a portion of the world to Yosef, as is written (Genesis 48:22), “And I have given you one shekhem (one portion) over and above your brothers.” For through his prayer, he sent an influx of life-force into all three parts of the universe—the lowest world, the world of the stars and the world of the angels. This is [indicated in the word] SheKheM: Shafel (lowly), Kokhav (star) and Malakh (angel). All this [Yaakov] achieved through his prayer, as the verse continues, “…[the portion] which I took from the hand of the Emorite with my sword and my bow”— “with my prayer and supplication.”

~ What is Shechem in this reading?

~ How did the blessing of Yaakov change Yosef?

וְאוֹתִיּוֹת הַתְּפִלָּה הִיא הַשְּׁכִינָה, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב (תהילים נ״א:י״ז): אֲדֹנָי שְׂפָתַי תִּפְתָּח – שֶׁהַדִּבּוּר הוּא שֵׁם אֲדֹנָי. וְנִקְרָא קֶשֶׁת, כְּמוֹ שֶׁפֵּרֵשׁ רַשִׁ"י (בראשית מח): בְּחַרְבִּי וּבְקַשְׁתִּי – לְשׁוֹן תְּפִלָּה.
And the letters of prayer are the Shekhinah, as is written (Psalms 51:17), “Adonoy (My Lord), open my lips”—the spoken word being the name Adonoy. And it is called a keshet (bow), as Rashi explains (Genesis 48:22): “with my sword and my bow”—this connotes prayer.

~ How does Reb Nachman of Bretzlav reinterpret "my sword and my bow"?

~ What are the letters of a prayer? What do they do?

ואני נתתי לך שכם אחד על אחיך וי"ל בזה בדרך רמז כי ידוע שני יחודים יש שאנו אומרם בבל יום והיינו שמע ישראל וכו' ובשכמל"ו שהוא ג"פ רזא דיחודא כדאיתא בזוה"ק ושניהם מתייחדים ע"י מי שהוא בבחי' צדיק והנה יוסף היה בחי' צדיק ובחי' דכר שהוא משפיע ושאר שבטים היו בחי' נוקבא וזה י"ל שרימז לו יעקב אבינו ואני נתתי לך שכם ר"ת שם כבוד מלכותו שהוא רזא דיחודא אחד הוא יחוד השני שמע ישראל ה' אחד וזהו על אחיך שהוא היה בחי' דכר והם בחי' נוקבא והמש"י:
And I gave you a Shechem above your brothers - and it's possible to say that there is a hint. It is known that there are two unifications that we say every day. They are found in the Shema etc and on "Baruch Shem Kevod Machulto Le'olam Vaed", which is three times a secret of unification as it is found in the holy Zohar, and the two unify through the one who is in the aspect of tzadik. And behold, Yosef is the aspect of tzadik, and on the aspect of male, since the was the giver, and the rest of the tribes are in the aspect of female. And this is the hint of Yaakov our father: and I gave you a Shechem above your brothers, since SheCheM is a hint to Shem Kevod Malchuto.

~ Shechem, in this reading, is something other. What? Who is able to become a Yosef?

Moshe Chaim Ephraim of Sudilkov , 1742 - 1800 CE, Poland. A grandson of the Ba'al Shem Tov

וַיַּעֲבֹר אַבְרָם בָּאָרֶץ עַד מְקוֹם שְׁכֶם. דָּא בֵּי כְּנִישְׁתָּא אֲתַּר דְּדִיּוּרָא דִּשְׁכִינְתָּא תַּמָּן כְּמָא דְאַתְּ אָמֵר, (בראשית מ״ח:כ״ב) ואֲנִ''י נָתַּתִּי לְךָ שְׁ'כֶ'ם' אֶחָד, דָּא שְׁכִינְתָּא דְּאִתְּחֲזֵי לֵיהּ הוֹאִיל וְאִתְּקְרֵי צַּדִּיק, דְּהָא צֶּדֶק לָאו דִּיּוּרָהּ אֶלָּא בַּהֲדֵי צַּדִּיק, וְדָא הוּא עַד מְקוֹם שְׁכֶם. עַד אֵלוֹן מוֹרֶה אֵלּוּ בָּתֵּי מִדְרָשׁוֹתּ דְּאוֹלְפִּין וּמוֹרִים תַּמָּן תּוֹרָה בָּרַבִּים.
The verse, "And Abram passed through the land to the place of Shechem," alludes to the synagogue, the place where the Shechinah resides. As it is written, "Moreover I have given to you one portion (Heb. שְׁ'כֶ'ם')" (Gen. 48:22), (Shechem) is the Shechinah, which is fit for (Yosef), as he is called 'righteous.' Because righteousness (i.e. the Shechinah) does not reside anywhere else but in the righteous (Yosef). This is the meaning of "to the place of Shechem," (i.e. the shul). "To the plain of Moreh" alludes to Torah-learning academies, where they teach and instruct Torah to the public.

~ Why is Yosef seen as righteous?

~ What are the parts of Yosef's life that are righteous?

~ Do we take an all-or-nothing approach to righteousness?

וַיִּקְרָ֥א יַעֲקֹ֖ב אֶל־בָּנָ֑יו וַיֹּ֗אמֶר הֵאָֽסְפוּ֙ וְאַגִּ֣ידָה לָכֶ֔ם אֵ֛ת אֲשֶׁר־יִקְרָ֥א אֶתְכֶ֖ם בְּאַחֲרִ֥ית הַיָּמִֽים׃
הִקָּבְצ֥וּ וְשִׁמְע֖וּ בְּנֵ֣י יַעֲקֹ֑ב וְשִׁמְע֖וּ אֶל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֥ל אֲבִיכֶֽם׃
And Jacob called his sons and said, “Come together that I may tell you what is to befall you in days to come.
Assemble and hearken, O sons of Jacob; Hearken to Israel your father:
בֵּ֤ן פֹּרָת֙ יוֹסֵ֔ף בֵּ֥ן פֹּרָ֖ת עֲלֵי־עָ֑יִן בָּנ֕וֹת צָעֲדָ֖ה עֲלֵי־שֽׁוּר׃
וַֽיְמָרְרֻ֖הוּ וָרֹ֑בּוּ וַֽיִּשְׂטְמֻ֖הוּ בַּעֲלֵ֥י חִצִּֽים׃
וַתֵּ֤שֶׁב בְּאֵיתָן֙ קַשְׁתּ֔וֹ וַיָּפֹ֖זּוּ זְרֹעֵ֣י יָדָ֑יו מִידֵי֙ אֲבִ֣יר יַעֲקֹ֔ב מִשָּׁ֥ם רֹעֶ֖ה אֶ֥בֶן יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
מֵאֵ֨ל אָבִ֜יךָ וְיַעְזְרֶ֗ךָּ וְאֵ֤ת שַׁדַּי֙ וִיבָ֣רְכֶ֔ךָּ בִּרְכֹ֤ת שָׁמַ֙יִם֙ מֵעָ֔ל בִּרְכֹ֥ת תְּה֖וֹם רֹבֶ֣צֶת תָּ֑חַת בִּרְכֹ֥ת שָׁדַ֖יִם וָרָֽחַם׃
בִּרְכֹ֣ת אָבִ֗יךָ גָּֽבְרוּ֙ עַל־בִּרְכֹ֣ת הוֹרַ֔י עַֽד־תַּאֲוַ֖ת גִּבְעֹ֣ת עוֹלָ֑ם תִּֽהְיֶ֙יןָ֙ לְרֹ֣אשׁ יוֹסֵ֔ף וּלְקׇדְקֹ֖ד נְזִ֥יר אֶחָֽיו׃ {פ}
Joseph is a wild donkey, A wild donkey by a spring—Wild colts on a hillside.
Archers bitterly assailed him; They shot at him and harried him.
Yet his bow stayed taut, And his arms were made firm By the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob—There, the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel—
The God of your father who helps you, And Shaddai who blesses you With blessings of heaven above, Blessings of the deep that couches below, Blessings of the breast and womb.
The blessings of your father Surpass the blessings of my ancestors,To the utmost bounds of the eternal hills. May they rest on the head of Joseph, On the brow of the elect of his brothers.
~ What is this moment?
~ Note that Yaakov names himself Israel at this moment.
~ What are the blessings that Yaakov is giving Yosef? How do they compare to the previous one(s)?
~ This is a very difficult piece to translate. What parts aren't clear?

Another translation, that includes Rashi's commentary:

A son of favor is Joseph, a son of favor [alighting] upon the eye [of his beholder].

[The] daughters [of Egypt] would step [upon the wall] to gaze [at his beauty].

And they [(his brothers) and Potiphar and his wife (by incarcerating him)] embittered him, and they [his brothers] became contenders (against him), and the arrow wielders [i.e., the arrow-tongued] hated him. And his strength was firmly established, and his arms were goldened [(an allusion to the placing of the signet upon his hand)] by the strength of Jacob — whence [he rose to become] the head-stone of Israel.

[This (glory) came to you] from the G-d of your father, and He shall abet you; and with the Almighty [was your heart when you resisted your mistress] and He will bless you — blessings of heaven from above, blessings of the deep, lying below, blessings of fecundation [(i.e., the males will beget)] and of womb [(i.e., the females will not miscarry)].

The blessings [i.e., G-d's blessings] of your father (Jacob) have surpassed the blessings of [G-d to] my begetters (Abraham and Isaac), [my blessings being] until the ends of the hills [the four corners] of the world [(28:14)]. They (the blessings) shall [all] descend upon the head of Joseph and upon the crown of him who was separated from his brothers. [R. Shraga Silverstein's translation; "Torah with Rashi"]

אֲמַרוּ לֵיהּ אֲנַן מִזַּרְעָא דְּיוֹסֵף דְּלָא שָׁלְטָא בֵּיהּ עֵינָא בִּישָׁא דִּכְתִיב בֵּן פֹּרָת יוֹסֵף בֵּן פֹּרָת עֲלֵי עָיִן וְאָמַר רַבִּי אֲבָהוּ אַל תִּקְרֵי עֲלֵי עָיִן אֶלָּא עוֹלֵי עָיִן
Joseph’s descendants said to him: We are of the descendants of Joseph, upon whom the evil eye had no dominion, as it is written: “Joseph is a fruitful vine, a fruitful vine by a fountain [alei ayin]” (Genesis 49:22), and Rabbi Abbahu states a homiletic interpretation: Do not read it as alei ayin,” rather read it as olei ayin, above the eye.

~ How is "fountain" reinterpreted?

~ What does it mean to be above the evil eye?

~ What kind of blessing is this?

דְּתַנְיָא, מִפְּנֵי מַה זָכָה יוֹסֵף דְּלָא שַׁלְטָא בֵּיהּ עֵינָא בִּישָׁא, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁזָּכָה לְאִשְׁתַּגְּחָא בְּעֵינָא טָבָא עִילָּאָה, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב, (בראשית מ״ט:כ״ב) בֵּן פּוֹרָת יוֹסֵף בֵּן פּוֹרָת עֲלֵי עָיִן. אֲמַאי הוּא בֵּן פּוֹרָת. עֲלֵי עָיִן. כְּלוֹמַר עַל סִבַּת עַיִן דְּאִשְׁתְּגַח בֵּיהּ.

(6) As it is taught: why did Yosef merit that the evil eye would not rule over him? Because he merited to consider the higher good eye, as it is written: Yosef is a son of favor, a son of favor above the eye (Gen. 49:22). Why is he a son of favor, above the eye? It is due to the reason of the eye that looks on him.

(ז) וּכְתִיב טוֹב עַיִן הוּא יְבוֹרָךְ, מַאי טַעְמָא. כִּי נָתַן מִלַּחְמוֹ לַדָּל.

(7) And it is written: a good eye is blessed (Prov. 22:9). Why? Because the person [with the good eye] gave from their bread to the poor.

~ What is the main idea about the evil eye in this source? How does one avoid it?

בן פרת יוסף וכו' ולקדקוד נזיר אחיו (בראשית מט, כב-כז). כי יוסף אינו בשבטים כמו שאר אחיו, כי מנשה ואפרים הם נקראים שבטים במקומו ויוסף הצדיק נקרא מהאבות לבניו וזהו נזיר אחיו, ועיין בתרגום אונקלוס פרישא דאחוהי, שאינו נקרא בשבטים כמו שאר אחיו ובניו הם נקראים שבטים במקומו:
Genesis 49,22. “Joseph is a fruitful bough…….on the brow ‎of the elect of his brothers.” The blessing of Joseph reflects ‎that he is not exactly like any of the other tribes since his sons ‎Menashe and Ephrayim were both counted as separate tribes. ‎Joseph himself was described not as much as a son of Yaakov but ‎as the father of Menashe and Ephrayim. This is why Yaakov adds ‎as part of defining him the words ‎נזיר אחיו‎, “the elect of his ‎brothers.” His sons were included in the roster of the tribes in his ‎place.‎

בנות צעדה עלי שור (בראשית מט, כב). כלומר עלי שור שישור יוסף בהם שהוא עין טוב בכל מקום שהסתכל היה שורה ברכה, לא כן אדם אחר שמזיק היזק ראיה:

Genesis 49:22 “maidens stepped atop the wall [aley shur].” This is a veiled ‎allusion to the tradition that Joseph was immune to the “evil ‎eye.” ‎Meaning, Yosef would see [yishor] them with a good eye, to every place he look blessing would come, not like another [type of] person who would damage with their eye.

~ How does the Kedushat Levi (Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev) see the blessings of Yosef?

~ What is the question of the evil eye?

Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev, 1740 - 1809 CE, Poland, was known for his love of the Jewish people and his fervor in prayer and enthusiastic dedication to mitzvot.

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