Lekach Tov
“And he blessed them that day, saying: ‘By you Israel will bless…’” (Genesis, 48:20).
Many wonder what sets Ephraim and Manasseh apart from the forefathers of the other tribes. What did they do to merit serving as examples for Jewish children in every generation?
Rav Shmuel Hominer answers this question. Unlike the others, Manasseh and Ephraim were born and raised in Egypt, a country steeped in impurity. Their home, being the home of a ruler, was a constant gathering place for the country’s leaders and priests. They spent many years this way, in a foreign country, far from the holy Land of Israel and their fathers. By contrast, the other forefathers of the tribes grew up and were raised in the home of our forefather Jacob, who imbued them with his spirit. And when they entered the Land of Israel from Haran, they also had the privilege of being together with Isaac.
Despite this, when Yaakov went down to Egypt, he found that Ephraim and Menashe had remained entirely untouched by Egypt’s impurity. They did not follow the Egyptians in any way, adopting neither their customs nor their way of life. Moreover, raised by the righteous Yosef in Torah and fear of Heaven, they proved worthy of being counted among G-d’s twelve tribes, holy and pure.
The path to this was undoubtedly no bed of roses for Ephraim and Menashe. Clearly, they had to overcome considerable difficulties and trials. Yet they followed only the holy path of their ancestors, shown to them by their righteous father. Let everyone remember this when blessing their children, students, or any Jew. Let them wish for those they bless to follow only the path of the holy Torah, paying no heed to those who abandon the straight path and adopting nothing from them. May the L-rd, blessed be He, pour out His spirit upon them from on high, so that each, according to their abilities, may absorb holiness and attain the level of the holy and pure Ephraim and Menashe.