There is a tendency to search for many avenues to receive the Brachot of Hashem, for ourselves and for our families. Too often our search, will encourage us to travel to distant countries to receive these Blessings, while all the time, our most generous Segulot and Brachot, are available on a daily basis, and all it takes is that we live as Erlichin Yiden,Upstanding Jews. This is easily achieved, when we recognize, with love and with reverence, that our Torah and our Yiddishkeit, in general, are our true "Chiyus", our Main Lifeline. With an act of humbleness we beseech G-D, that His infinite Brachot will be evinced and given full expression.
These ideas regarding Brachot, are more evident from this Week's Parsha of Vayache, wherein Yaakov, resting on his death bed, brings together his family and presents his last will and testament bestowing his Blessings on each and every child, in a most meaningful way. These Blessings were not only for the present moment, but, more so, they will be a Tribute of Blessings for everlasting time.
In this context, I am reminded of the words of our beloved Rav, Rabbi Soloveitchik,זצ״ל, explaining that a Bracha always comes at the end- after the act is completed. The Rav said, "We see this when Hashem created the world, and with the building of the Beit Hamikdash, where the Bracha was only given upon its completion." The reason for this is that a Bracha expresses the desire, "That what I strove to produce should continue."
The Ramban, reflecting upon the creation of the world where it states, “וירא אלוקים כי טוב.After every creation by Hashem, He saw that it was good, therefore worthy of קיום, of being permanently established.” This was Hashem’s Bracha after creation, a Blessing that what was created should continue.
The same applies to people. The greatest Bracha, is to know, that whatever a person worked for in life will not simply disappear, but rather continue on for future generations.
In fact, the Medrash states that Yaakov placed his grandchildren אפרים and מנשה, on his lap, like a true grandfather would and hugged them and Blessed them. At that moment Hashem revealed to him, with רוח הקודש, that they will indeed follow in Yoseph’s footsteps and fill his place in life. There is certainly no greater Bracha for a father to hear that his future is intact through the next generation. When Yoseph witnessed that amazing relationship with his Father Yaakov, his natural response was to bow in gratitude. We see how beautiful it is and how great it is to give thanks when one experiences and receives good tidings about the future generation.
As we search for ways to achieve Brachot, we need to look at what might be a disturbing factor in achieving that goal. To begin with, my immediate thoughts reflect a severe dilemma that exists in our modern technological society. We seem to be suffering from an epidemic of loneliness. I believe that it is a result of our total dependence on our tech devices. We are plugged in constantly to our smartphones, our PCs and our I Pads. Our machines are taking over for our human communication, and when we are in need, we have no one to lean on and this can be devastating, denying the Brachot of life. Without the family and community communicating with each other, loneliness takes over and life becomes depressing. This was Yaakov’s greatest fear going down to Egypt.
Brachot are present when we get to see our dreams fulfilled, especially, when it comes to children and grandchildren.
Our Avot and Imahot, are our inspiration. Through them, we pray that our Brachot will be fulfilled. As Jews we will travel the spiritual road that they have set forth for עם ישראל, and thus guaranteeing that our future will be a glorious one, bringing our ישועהvery quickly.
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