Dear Friends,
The French philosopher Blaise Pascal (1623-1662) taught that one of the most compelling signs of Divine providence is the Jewish people themselves. A nation exiled from its land, scattered across continents, pressured to disappear—yet remaining distinct, faithful, and enduring—does not fit the normal patterns of history.
Along these lines, this week's Torah portion VaYechi shares a core Jewish blessing and value that helps make the miraculous Jewish existence unfold.
In last week's Torah portion, we witnessed Jacob’s reunion with Joseph in Egypt. It was twenty-two years in the making and was tearful and joyful. Jacob finally knew Joseph was alive and knew he had remained faithful to the Hebrew/Jewish ideals.
But this was only the beginning.
When Joseph introduced his Egyptian wife and the two sons born to him in Egypt, this was entirely new for Jacob. One can imagine his hesitation as he asked, “Who are they, Joseph?”—and his relief and joy when he learned that Joseph had married according to Jewish law and that his sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, had been raised Jewishly, with faith and identity intact.
Years later before his passing, Jacob made a choice that would echo through Jewish history. Of all his grandchildren, he chose these two—Diaspora-born children—to become the model blessing for every Jewish child, still used today before Shabbat and Yom Kippur:
“May G-d make you like Ephraim and Manasseh.”
That choice is striking. These were the only grandchildren born outside the Land of Israel, raised in a foreign culture, surrounded by values not their own. Why not choose grandchildren raised in the holiness of Israel, immersed in Judaism from birth?
Because Jacob knew what was coming.
G-d had already promised him, “Ufaratzta yamah v’kedmah, tzafonah v’negba”—that his descendants, the Jewish people, would spread outward, west and east, north and south, across the entire earth. Jewish destiny would not remain confined to the Land of Israel. It would also unfold across continents, cultures, and centuries.
The Jewish future would largely be lived in exile. Jews would need to know that Judaism can not only survive outside Israel—but flourish. Not only under the presence of a patriarch like Jacob, but even before he arrived. Manasseh and Ephraim proved that a strong Jewish home can raise strong Jewish children anywhere.
That is why Jacob elevated them—making them tribes equal to his own sons.
And that is why this blessing speaks so deeply to us today.
The Diaspora Jew constantly swims against the current—especially at times of year when the street, the culture, and the calendar all pull in the opposite direction. Jewish identity must be chosen, protected, and reaffirmed daily. That takes strength.
The Israeli Jew lives in a tough “neighborhood” and faces physical danger; the Diaspora Jew, often in a more comfortable setting, faces spiritual danger. Both are real. But danger to the soul requires constant resilience.
When Jacob prepared to leave Egypt, he asked that Manasseh and Ephraim carry his coffin along with their uncles. The message was clear: I may be leaving you here—but you are strong enough to carry on. If they could thrive before Jacob arrived, we can thrive after he leaves.
That is why Jews everywhere—Diaspora and Israel alike—still bless their children with these names. Because Ephraim and Manasseh remind us that Jewish strength isn’t only inherited from our surroundings. It’s forged through commitment—and by listening to our Jewish soul’s call to live authentically.
And that blessing still gives us courage—especially when we need it most.
As we carry that message forward, this January we will be kicking off our next I AM YISRAEL CHAI Project: Kosher Awareness Month. Stay tuned next week for more information on how—no matter your kosher background—you can meaningfully upgrade this core practice of Jewish identity in your own life and home.
Wishing you a Shabbat Shalom and Good Shabbos,
Rabbi Yitzi Hein
Chabad of Pittsford