{"id":46906,"date":"2019-01-04T10:57:21","date_gmt":"2019-01-04T16:57:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/?p=46906"},"modified":"2019-01-05T21:08:14","modified_gmt":"2019-01-06T03:08:14","slug":"blessings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/blessings\/","title":{"rendered":"Blessings"},"content":{"rendered":"

By RABBI JOSEPH H. PROUSER<\/p>\n

When Jewish parents bless their daughters on the eve of Sabbath and Holidays, or at life\u2019s significant milestones, we invoke the Matriarchs: \u201cGod make you like Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, and Leah.\u201d But in compliance with an explicit Biblical directive (Genesis<\/em> 48:20) based on the precedent of Jacob\u2019s blessing for Joseph\u2019s children, the parental benediction bestowed upon our sons begins, \u201cGod make you like Ephraim and Manasseh.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"

Jacob was a grateful heir to the patriarchal role discharged by Abraham and Isaac. He remembered his past. Yet his emphasis was on engaging his grandchildren — the future — an example we are called upon to emulate.      <\/p>\n

Jacob apparently succeeded in transmitting his dual sense of history and continuity to Joseph. According to the final verses of the Book of Genesis (50:22-23), Joseph developed a special relationship with his great-grandchildren, \u201cchildren of the third generation of Ephraim\u201d and \u201cthe children of Machir the son of Manasseh.\u201d<\/p>\n

Could there be a greater blessing?<\/p>\n

(Rabbi Joseph H. Prouser is the rabbi of Temple Emanuel of North Jersey and the National Chaplain of the National Jewish Committee on Scouting. This marks the 52nd entry by Rabbi Prouser marking a full year of commentaries.)<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Share