Genesis

בייה

On Simchat Torah עַם־יִשְׂרָאֵל – The people of Israel planned joyous celebrating, dancing with the Torah, singing, snacking and a little drinking. Sadly, an enemy/Hamas attack עַם־יִשְׂרָאֵל – People of Israel on our Holy Sabbath, which was joined this year with Shemini Atzeret – the Eighth Day. On that day, without provocation, Hamas viciously attacked the People of Israel, murdering hundreds, injuring thousands, and kidnapping over one – hundred, thus turning our joy into sadness. There will be another time for joyous celebrating, but not now. Solomon wrote, ‘Those who join hands in an evil cause shall not go unpunished’ (Proverbs 16.5). The guilty must be brought to Justice. Understandably, Israel declared war on Hamas. Now is the time for war (Ecclesiastes 3.8) with Hamas and ‘those who joined hands in that evil cause!’ Israel cannot allow this hateful, vindictive, venomous attack to go unpunished!! Just as Jacobs’s sons Shimon and Levi brought Prince Shechem, his father, and fellow countrymen to Justice (Genesis 34). The people of our world need to stand in righteous judgment and solidarity in bringing Hamas, Iran, and Putin to Justice.

Until now, nations of our world have hesitated to adjudicate Hamas, Iran, and wicked leaders like Putin.

Jacob’s sons had to coalesce from their fractured state. That is why in (Genesis 49) Jacob’s last call before his death was for his sons to unify. He challenged them. He knew plenty of contentions existed among his family. Joseph also realized that as well. It is the same in our world today. The inability of עַם־יִשְׂרָאֵל – People of Israel to agree, i.e., reach a consensus, get along, and unite defeats us. Our fractured state created a gap between us that made us vulnerable. In (Genesis 50.15 – 21) Joseph’s half-brothers focused on past differences while Joseph’s centered his attention on present and future needs. Realizing their concerns, he assured and comforted them.

עַם־יִשְׂרָאֵל – People of Israel unity is essential. We are stronger when we are unified.Israel/Jacob knew that. He also knew this was his last opportunity to draw his sons together with his fatherly influence. Jacob observed his sons in Goshen for 17 ‘good’ harmonious, peaceful years. Those 17 years encapsulate the word טוֹב Tov – good. In addition, 17 hypostatizes the years Joseph learned with Jacob before being sold into slavery. Jacob cultivated Egypt’s righteous, honest, ethical, wise, and responsible Viceroy. Joseph remained steadfast in all that Jacob taught him. (Sota 36b) says, ‘Joseph was worthy that twelve tribes should issue from him as they issued from his father Jacob, as it is said: These are the generations of Jacob, Joseph. (Genesis 37.1 – 2) ties the generations of Jacob and Joseph together, i.e., תֹּלְדוֹת יַעֲקֹב יוֹסֵף – Joseph’s face resembled Jacob. Esau hated Jacob and threatened to murder him. Joseph’s ten half-brothers hated him and planned to murder him. We mystically connect these and other similarities through Gematria and the Number 17. In addition, Manasseh and Ephraim learned The Torah with Jacob during the seventeen years he had resided in Egypt (Midrash Tanchuma Vayechi 6.7). ‘Some say that Ephraim was regularly with Jacob for study, and when Jacob became ill in the land of Goshen, Ephraim went to his father in Egypt and reported it to him.’ (Tanchuma 1:12:6). ‘Jacob became ‎very aged and advanced in days and the two sons of Joseph, Ephraim and Manasseh, dwelt ‎continually in Jacob’s house with the children of the sons of Jacob their brothers, to learn the ‎ways of Lord and his laws.’ (Sefer HaYashar (midrash), Book of Genesis, Vayigash).

Jacob was about to die, so he called all the tribes together and said,’ [I am anxious and concerned] that you may bow down to another God after I have departed this world. Why was Jacob concerned? Because Abraham begat Ishmael and Isaac begat Esau, Both went astray. Jacob knew he must have twelve holy, righteous sons to head the tribes of Israel.

Jacob searched his life to find what sin he may have committed to be punished with the loss of his son, Joseph. Why? Just as Joseph was stripped of his colorful prayer garment, Jacob felt stripped of the blessing of being chosen by Lord our God. Jacob knew that the existence of the universe depended upon twelve sons, i.e., twelve tribes were required because there were twelve zodiacs. He felt like a reproach! He felt the merit of being selected to establish the twelve tribes was stripped away because of a sin he could not identify.

(Pesachim 56a) says, ‘And Jacob called unto his sons, and said: Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you [that which shall befall you at the end of days].’ Jacob wished to reveal to his sons the ‘end of the days,’ at which point the Shechinah departed from him. Said he, ‘Perhaps, Heaven forfend! There is one unfit among my children, like Abraham, from whom there issued Ishmael, or my father Isaac, from whom there issued Esau.’

[But] his sons answered him, ‘Hear O Israel, the Lord our God the Lord is One: just as there is only One in your heart, there is only One in our heart.’

At that moment, our father Jacob opened [his mouth] and exclaimed, ‘Blessed be the name of His glorious kingdom forever and ever.’‘ What is the point? We unite when we say the Shema.

Those who have lost family, employment, property, and wealth may be on the edge of losing all hope. The people of Israel have been here before this wicked attack. At times like these, we look for the Moshiach to come and deliver us. We want deliverance! There is nothing wrong in wanting a Moshiach, a deliverer. Our father, Jacob, wanted us to know we would be all right. Good will Triumph! He emphasized that we will succeed. We will be successful! There was a time when I became very ill. Death seemed imminent. I began saying the Shema as most Jews do. A most beautiful, calming, comforting peace flowed through and around me. That was a fantastic experience. In our seemingly darkest hour, we are connected to God, and God is Connected to us. We are not fractured. (Psalms 145.18) says, ‘The Lord is near to all those who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth.’

The Lord God’s Plan after the End of Days is for us to be together…

R Hiyya ben Abba Said, Did all the prophets prophesy only about the Messianic age [or did they also prophesy about the world to come? (Isaiah 64.3) Says, ‘For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, nor has the eye seen a God besides You, who will do such a thing for them who wait for him.’

After the End of Days, the Messianic age is so wonderful that we cannot speak extensively enough or begin to understand how special it is.

Our goal should be for parents and children to unite and for people of all nations, races, and creeds to join in worship and service to Lord our God.

Dr. Akiva Gamliel Belk

Author