Parshat Vayechi
Self-Evaluation
Parshat Vayechi -Ya'akov lived - marks
the end of an era in early Israelite history, and the end of the lives of two
colorful characters: Ya'akov and Yosef.
Thus, it invites us to reflect on our own lives.
In Parshat Vayechi, Ya'akov gives a final blessing to his twelve sons. He says,
"Come together and I will tell you what will happen in the course of
time." Using metaphors drawn from the natural world, he tells them what
will be the characteristics of the clans descended from them.
Reuven - water,
constantly changing
Shimon and
Levi - fierce enough to attack bulls
Yehudah -
intimidating as a hunting lion
Zebulun - a safe
harbor
Yissachar - working the
land, like a strong donkey
Dan - a
powerful warrior, with weapons like snake fangs
Gad - a
stealth warrior, a tiny creature that attacks the heel
Asher - a
cornucopia filled with rich food
Naphtali - a
deer in the wild, free and beautiful
Joseph - a
vine that produces fruit in any circumstance
Binyamin - a
disciplined warrior, like a wolf
These twelve
descriptions offer a set of categories we can use to evaluate our environment,
our country, our inner lives.
Each tribe
represents:
1) an element in a
balanced ecosystem: water, land, plants, hunting animals,
and vegetarian
animals;
2) an element in a
balanced nation: flexibility, agricultural security, international
trade, military
security, a protected natural environment;
3) an element in a
balanced personality: flexibility, confidence, discipline,
freedom, love of
beauty, productivity.
Where are we
succeeding, and where do our personal and collective lives require attention?
Return to Reb Laura's "Taste of
Torah" list.
Return to "Teachings from Our Rabbis and
Friends" list.
|
[ Home ] |
[ Asiyah
] |
[ Yetzirah ] |
[ Briyah ] |
[ Atzilut ] |
[ Calendar ] |
|
|
( Doing ) |
( Feeling ) |
( Knowing ) |
( Being ) |
|