Miryam's Space

December 31^st, 2020

I wish to start by thanking R’ Elizabeth Goldstein, whose study of this parashah began my week with tears. The parashah Vayechi, meaning And he lived, opens with Jacob’s approaching death and will end the death of Joseph and close the book of Beginnings, of Genesis. It begins as the “days of Yaakov’s death drew near”.  He recognizes this and calls his favorite son Joseph to him, to arrange burial in Canaan. We will say goodbye not just to Jacob and Joseph but to all the richly flawed, and brave and deeply human icons of this first book of Torah. And our tradition says it will make us strong, we will say chazak, be strong! as we complete the book.

And Elizabeth asked us “what have each of us personally lost, and are bidding farewell to” and many of us who have experienced fear and loss and vulnerability. Thus the tears. By allowing vulnerability we honored these feelings, and so somehow made it possible to move on.

As we say goodbye to this year, on New Year’s eve.

The old year, with all it’s drama and pathos.

The old seasons. The days are longer, sap will flow, spring is coming.

And to too many souls lost.

What do we do? How can we move on with mortality so near?

Well what does Israel do?

He first invokes his father and grandfather and then calls his grandchildren near, calls them his own, invoking time and generations. Verse 10 chapter 47 – Israel’s eyes were dim with age, he could not see. And Joseph brought them close and he kissed and embraced them in gratitude. I didn’t think I’d ever see you, and G!d has let me see your children.  Gratitude is an enormous part of the answer. Then he makes a small tikkun,  a correction that will endure. All through Torah, where the first born child traditionally had the right to twice the inheritance of others, and to be the leader of the clan, G!d had other plans, and this has led to strife between brothers. Jacob crosses his hands in blessing Ephraim and Menasseh, the younger on the right before the older, in the order we still do things, though Menasseh was first born. Perhaps we can make sme tikkun too.

Then he gives the boys his Angel: may the Angel who has redeemed me from harm bless the lads. Ha-malach ha-goel oti m’kol rah y’varech et ha-naarim. My grandparents were my angels in childhood and have become again. I have a few things from my grandparents, including a challah cover with their names embroidered on it. Who have been your angels

May those angels who have helped us through this past year be with our children, with those who will carry forward beyond us.