“From Comfort to Strength: A New Book for the New Year”

By Hazzan Jenna Greenberg.

Our final parasha of Breishit, Vayechi, begins with the news that Yaakov has lived (Vayechi) for the past 17 years in Egypt; his life has spanned 147 years and Yaakov feels his life coming to an end. So he said to Yosef, “If I have found favor in your eyes, then swear to me that you will not bury me in Egypt, but with my fathers in Canaan.” Yosef agreed, then later received word that his father was dying. So he took his two sons, Menashe and Ephraim, to see Yaakov. Yaakov sat up in bed, saying, “El Shaddai appeared to me in the land of Canaan and blessed me. God said to me, ‘Behold, I will make you fruitful and will multiply you, and I will let you become a community of nations and will give this land to your seed after you as an everlasting possession.”

Shortly thereafter Yaakov added, “Now, bring your sons to me so that I may bless them.” But he did so in an unusual manner. With Menashe and Efraim kneeling in front of their nearly blind grandfather, Yosef assists by placing Yaakov’s right hand on Menashe, the older son, and his left hand on Efraim, the younger son. Yaakov then switches his hands, saying that Efrayim will be greater than Menashe. 

Yaakov proceeds to bless the 2 boys with the words: Y’simcha Elohim K’Efraim v’chiM’nashe, May God make you like Efraim and like Menashe. In many families, these words are recited by parents to their sons on Friday nights, a minhag that was first recorded by Rabbi Aharon Berakhyah of Modena, Italy, 300 years ago. 

Just prior to this blessing, Yaakov blesses not only Efraim and Menashe, but Yosef as well in 48:16: “HaMalakh haGoel Oti…May the angel who has delivered me from all evil, bless the lads. May they carry on my name and the name of my fathers, Avraham and Yitzchak. May they become teeming multitudes upon the earth.” 

These beautiful words reflecting God’s blessings and protection, have been applied to Kriyat Sh’ma Al HaMita, the series of blessings and prayers recited in bed each night before going to sleep. This blessing, is textually and musically one of the most beautiful Jewish lullabies in our tradition, bringing a feeling of calm and comfort in those last moments before we fall asleep.

Just as we have that final ritual before entering the world of our dreams, we also have a final ritual at the end of this parasha, and at the end of each book of the Torah. This Shabbat morning, when we complete the book of Breishit, we will recite the words Hazak Hazak v’nithazeik: Be Strong, be Strong and let us be strengthened.

This Shabbat of Vayechi conveniently coincides with the secular new year, as this is our final Shabbat of 2023. Not only do we wish strength upon each of us as we continue on our journey through the next four books of the Torah, but we also wish strength upon ourselves and one another as we continue on our journeys through this new year ahead. Just like our biblical ancestors, may we always feel blessed and strengthened by God’s protective presence wherever we go and whenever we have opportunities to celebrate and sanctify the passing of time.

Shabbat Shalom and Happy New Year!