By Rabbi Yaakov Marks
SAN DIEGO — After a deeply spiritual life Yaakov is now ready to charge and bless the next generation as they prepare to carry on the mission of teaching the world the greatness of G-d. The angelic glory which emanated from Yaakov must have surely generated an awe-inspiring atmosphere in the room. Yaakov summoned his sons who gathered around his death bed, waiting for the counsel and directives of their father. As Yaakov began to speak, each of his sons waited anxiously for the final words of wisdom their father would transmit to each of them.
Yaakov first spoke to Reuven stating, “You are unstable like water.” He then turned to Shimon and Levi stating, “Cursed is your rage.” Yehudah was told that he will be mighty and the king. Subsequently, each brother received a blessing. At the conclusion of the individual blessings, all the brothers received a second collective blessing. The commentaries state that each brother received two blessings, first an individual blessing and then a group blessing. But how could they say this when Reuven, Shimon and Levi only received harsh words? Where are their individual blessings? Can these rebukes be considered a blessing?
In order to understand the words of Yaakov, we need to understand his and his sons’ missions in life. They were not trying to gather material possessions; nor were they trying to get people to praise them. They were not trying to win awards or to become great. Their goals were focused upon reaching their personal spiritual perfection, and with that they would become a role model for future generations.
The word “gather,” according to Rav Shimshon Raphael Hirsch, means “to take from a place it should not be and bring it to a place where it should be.” When the Torah says, “Yaakov gathered his sons,” it means that he [Yaakov] was going to use his astute and penetrating insight to guide each of his sons to his specific, personal greatness. By pointing out to them certain emotions that they might not be using entirely for good, Yaakov gave his sons the greatest blessing they could receive: the opportunity to attain perfection. At the end of a person’s life, what could be better than fulfilling his mission and reaching his potential of doing the ultimate good? What could be a greater blessing than this?
It is not always easy to admit we have behaved wrongfully. Reuven, Shimon, and Levi, however, were great men, seeking only truth and perfection. To them, Yaakov’s words were not a rebuke; they were a loving endorsement and a blessing.
May we have the strength and desire to grow so that we may see all corrections not as ridicule but as a chance to shape ourselves into greater people. What could be a greater blessing in life?
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Rabbi Marks is a certified health coach who may be contacted
ahealthyrabbi@gmail.com