Rabbi Howard Morrison

At the Shabbat and festival table, it is customary to bless our children. For daughters, we pray that they follow in the footsteps of our founding matriarchs - Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, and Leah. One would expect that for sons, we would pray that they follow in the footsteps of our founding patriarchs - Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. However, that is not the case. Rather, we pray that our sons follow in the footsteps of Ephraim and Menashe. Why so?

There are many interpretations in our tradition. Here are a few: In Parshat Vayechi, we read how Jacob blesses his grandchildren and children during the final days of his life. In the Torah text, Jacob blesses his grandsons, Ephraim and Menashe, before he blesses his children.

Whereas Jacob's sons  lived a chapter of their lives in Israel, Ephraim and Menashe lived their entire lives outside of Israel in Egypt. If they could maintain their heritage in challenging situations, then Jews anywhere can do the same.

It is a blessing when our children receive our values, practices, and beliefs. It is even more of a blessing when we know that our grandchildren do the same.

Throughout the book of Genesis, all of the brothers are filled with conflict over each other: Isaac-Ishmael, Jacob-Esau, Joseph-his older brothers. The only two brothers about whom there is no recorded conflict are Ephraim and Menashe. As a result, they symbolize peace and unity among siblings.

May we be blessed to know that our tradition is in good hands not only one generation from now, but two and more generations from now as well.

Sincerely,

Rabbi Howard Morrison