On Friday nights, there is an almost universal custom to bless our children. For our girls, we bless them to be like Sara, Rivka, Rochel, and Leah (the great mothers of Judaism). For our boys, though, we do not bless them to be like these women’s husbands (Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yaakov). We bless the boys with a prayer from this week’s parsha, to be like Ephraim and Menashe. The question is obvious: why the sudden change? Why do we bless the boys to be like Ephraim and Menashe.

Let’s have a quick history lesson. Since the beginning of Bereshis, which brothers and relatives had a good relationship? Cain killed Abel. Noach’s sons, Shem and Yefes, were not happy with Cham and the terrible crime he committed. Avraham needed to separate himself from Lot. Yishmael shot arrows at Yitzchak. Esav tried to kill Yaakov. The ten brothers wanted to kill Yosef but instead sold him to be a slave. Not a good history.

There is one difference: Menashe and Ephraim. At the end of his life, Yaakov called in his grandsons (Yosef’s sons), Menashe and Ephraim, for a blessing. Yaakov stated that although Menashe was the older son, Ephraim would be greater. How do you think Menashe felt at that point? How would he react? Well, the way he reacted was by saying “Amen”. Menashe accepted that his brother would be greater. Menashe was happy for his brother. This is the way a brother is supposed to act towards his brother. And this is why we bless our children to be like Ephraim and Menashe. We bless our sons that they should behave as beautifully as Menashe and Ephraim behaved towards each other.

Instead of feeling jealousy, let’s be happy for other’s successes.

Good Shabbos!
-yes
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