ח. וַיַּרְא יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶת בְּנֵי יוֹסֵף וַיֹּאמֶר מִי אֵלֶּה:
Then Israel saw Joseph's sons, and he said, "Who are these?"
What does this mean that Yaakov had to ask who was there? Who else would Yosef bring for a blessing?!Rashi says that Yaakov asked because when Ephraim and Menashe entered the room,
Yakov's shechinah left him. This was due to their future descendants that were going to be evil kings. What is another interpretation of why Yaakov asked who was there? Why are Ephraim and Menashe given a special blessing? Why do we include them in the blessing to sons Friday nights?
According to the Chizkuni’s Pshat answer, Yaakov asked “who are these?” because his eyesight was ‘dimmed’ of his old age, and he was unable to recognize their facial features, and could not tell who they were. He was able to recognize Yosef from his voicee not his face, which is why it said “he saw”.
ReplyDeleteI really like this answer because it explains why Yaakov was unable to see Ephraim and Menashe without adding any extraordinary details, he just simply couldn’t see them. My personal answer would’ve been similar to the Chizkuni’s, and I would add a Drash perspective, that his inability to see the boys represented how he didn’t want to have to see them, with all of the negative aspects of their future, such as how Shevet Ephraim left Egypt thirty years early and didn’t survive.
Or hachaim comments on Perek מ״ח pasuk ח on why yakov asked who was there because he doesn’t understand how yakov didn’t recognize his own grandchildren. Or hachaim suggests that maybe yakov asked who menashe and ephraim were to draw out Yosef’s love for his children. He hopes that by asking who they were Yosef’s love for his children would show and therefore making the Bracha more meaningful. When yakov asked מי אלה he thought that Yosef would respond as a father who is proud of his kids.
ReplyDeleteMy thought on this is that it makes sense that yakov said it because he was doing a good thing for his grandchildren and son and that all he wanted to do was bring joy to Yosef.
The Radak in this weeks parsha comments on pasuk ח that the reason that Yaakov asks “Who are these?” (as in who are Yosef’s sons) because Yaakov see Menashe and Efraim from a far and because of his bad eyesight, he was unable to make out who was coming towards him. I like this answer because it is a pshat answer that makes sense with the knowledge that we know about Yaakov and his eyesight. Also, it is giving Yaakov the benefit of the doubt and not assuming that Yaakov chose not to see his grandsons but rather he was just unable to. I do have questions though about the answer of the Radak like: so then if it's that pshat why is it necessary for the Torah to add in that little detail? Also another question could be even someone who has bad eyesight can see the outline of the person and be able to recognize them (especially if it is your grandsons).
ReplyDeleteThe reason Yaakov asked who it was according to the Malbim, is that Yaakov couldn’t tell who his grandchildren were because they were dressed like the Egyptians and not like the jews. He explains that because they were the sons of Yosef who was the right hand to the king, Ephraim and Menashe were dressed like Egyptian royalty which was why Yaakov did not recognize him.
ReplyDeleteI think this is a good answer because it makes sense and is not a very confusing answer. Although I like the simplicity of it, I do have some problems with the answer. if yaakov couldn’t recognize Ephraim and Menashe because they were wearing different clothes how could he tell that Yosef was Yosef if he was also wearing different clothes? Another problem is didn’t he see his grandchildren before this moment, wouldn’t he be able to tell if he’s already seen them dressed like this?
According to Rabbi Shmuel Kogan, the reason why we include Ephraim and Menashe in the blessings to sons friday nights (saying that they should be like Ephriam and Menashe) is because of their remarkable characteristics. Despite living in Egypt throughout their lives, an extreme secular environment where the people lacked midot tovot, both remained faithful to their beliefs in God. Though it is difficult to remain great among people to begin with, it is extra challenging to be on a high level of spirituality and express good midot in an environment that is destitute of morals. Just like Ephriam and Menashe were able to remain faithful to Hashem despite their living standards, so too this is what parents wish for when blessing their kids Friday nights. Though parents would love to constantly protect their kids in a comfortable environment, there are times in children's lives where they will be peer pressured to do the wrong thing from the environment around them despite the beliefs and ethics they were taught by their parents. So by saying mentioning and saying “Be like Menasseh and Ephriam in the blessing, parents are telling their kids to be like them by having the strength to make the right choices despite the society around them. I really like this idea because it is very easy to get influenced because of the society around you but you have to learn to stay true to your beliefs and the morals you were taught and not allow the people around you to cause you to make bad choices. Additionally this taught me if Menasha and Ephriam were able to maintain faith in their beliefs in Hashem while living in one of the “worst countries” relating to bad morality how much more so can we remain faithful to our beliefs and who we are when we live in a way “better” and accepting society.
ReplyDeleteSource: https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/520258/jewish/Why-do-we-bless-our-sons-to-be-like-Ephraim-and-Manasseh.htm
There are many explanations for why we specifically bless our children to be like Ephraim and Menashe but Rabbi Mordechai Elon gives a beautiful answer that really stood out to me. Unlike most of the brothers we see in tanach, Ephraim and Menashe are the first pair of brothers who don’t seem to be competitors with one another. We don’t see anywhere in tanach that they struggle and fight for power and their family connection doesn’t seem to have any negative impact on either of their lives. By blessing our children to be like these specific brothers, rather than like our patriarchs or biblical leaders, parents are encouraging and hoping for their children to be like the siblings Ephraim and Menashe were, pleasant towards each other and living in peace and harmony. I think this is such a nice idea because it shows that all parents want in life is for their children to get along and love each other and by blessing them to be like Ephraim and Menashe, parents are instilling the values and brotherhood they had and we should continue to have.
ReplyDeleteLink to source: https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/blessing-the-children/
There is a question on this passuk, why would Yaakov have to ask who are these when he should know? And he saw them! Rashi says that when he says who are these, he is saying who are these people who are coming to me for a blessing who are unfitting for a blessing because from Ephraim will come evil kings and from Meashe, he saw Jehu will be a descendant of his. The Amek Hadavar mentions in his Pshat answer that the Torah forgot to say that Yaakov doesn’t have band eyesight so it is hard for him to differentiate between the two boys. Also, the Shadal says that out of honor for their father and grandfather the 2 boys stood back while Yosef approached his father. Therefore, Yaakov said he saw the some of Yosef because Yosef was with him.
ReplyDeleteI think between the both of these is a good answer. It was hard for Haakkoc to see so it makes sense that’s he had to ask who are these meaning which is which. Also, he is being a grandfather looking out for his grandsons and being a good New. By not blessing them, he is just looking out for the Jewish nation and wants to protect them. He is trying to avoid the Vergil prop,e that will come out of his grandsons. Also, the Shadal answer is also very good because it shows the respect level of Ephraim and Menashe. All of these answers give valid reasons as to why Yaakov said the sons of Yosef and who are these
Why do we still use the blessing given to Menashe and Ephraim? What makes it so special? An answer from a Dvar torah from Bar-Ilan University explains that Menashe and Ephraim were the first people to be blessed by their grandfather. Before that, we see many examples of people getting/giving brachot but never from an extended family member. It says in the article that this is significant because it is a lot of what makes us different from the animal world, a strong family relationship between grandparents and even great-grandparents. I like this answer because I think it helps to explain how Judaism has lasted so long. It is because we don’t just look to our parents for answers or help but also our grandparents and other relatives. To really appreciate Judaism in our own way, we really need to hear multiple ways of understanding it. By having strong family ties, not just as siblings, but also in the extended family we are able to hear other people. This was especially important before Jewish schools were common and people really counted on being taught by parents.
ReplyDeleteAccording to אבן עזרא, the reason Yaakov asked who are these was just to let them know he saw them. אבן עזרא gives a very פשט based answer that makes sense to me. Grandparents often acknowledge our presence by saying “Who is is [young lady/man]” or something along those lines.
ReplyDelete