Parshas Vayechi: Chazak + Chazak = v'Nischazeik!

Parshas Vayechi contains Birkas Yaakov – the berachos that Yaakov gave to each of his sons before passing away. One might think that Yaakov would be able to give one general beracha to the shevatim as a whole. After all, they were all brothers, sons of Yaakov, who would now be together in Mitzrayim, would later receive the Torah, enter Eretz Yisroel, and pretty much follow the same destiny as B’nei Yisroel. So, why did Yaakov feel it necessary to give each son a unique beracha? In fact, one could make the case that a general beracha would be more apropos. Individualism is what started the whole fight between the shevatim, wouldn’t a better message at this point of their unity and as they are about to enter galus Mitzrayim be a message of sticking together and all keeping the mesorah of Beis Yaakov?  

Perhaps from Birkas Yaakov we could extract a powerful lesson in avodas Hashem. When we think about avodas Hashem, we focus a lot on the “How”, and certainly the ikkur ha’din guidelines around tefillah, Torah, mitzvos, and derech eretz are well documented and described in our mesorah. However, there is another key element of avodas Hashem – which is not the “How”, but the “What”.  Avodas Hashem is not simply an obligation to serve Hashem, it is an obligation for you to serve Hashem. This necessitates that you serve Hashem in the way that is unique to you. Of course, in the broader framework we are all within the bumper rails of taryag mitzvos, halachos, mesorah, and kabbalah, but the color that each of us adds with our personalities, experiences, feelings, emotional pulls, and societal roles, is uniquely each of our own. Reuven and Yehuda follow the same Torah, halachas, etc. but their roles in society, experiences, and personalities result in unique expressions of avodas Hashem. This is the way it needs to be, for Reuven has an obligation of avodas Hashem, and Yehudah has an obligation of avodas Hashem. If Yehuda would try to be a Reuven, what would happen to Yehudah’s avodas Hashem? 

It is not uncommon for two camps of people who have the same objective but with distinctive styles to feel a sense of threat from one another. When it comes to avodas Hashem, however, nothing could be further from the truth. Assuming everyone is in fact keeping the Torah, mesorah, etc., not only is it a necessity for each person to express their avodas Hashem slightly differently, it is even an advantage for the Klal as a whole.  

The Ohr Hachaim points out that there is a grammatical inconsistency in the passuk (49: 28) when describing the berachos Yaakov gave the shevatim. The passuk relates that, “...this was what their father said to them.... each according to his blessing he blessed them.” The way the end of the passuk is written almost sounds like somehow everyone's beracha was not just for that shevet alone but for the Bnei Yisroel as a whole. The Ohr Hachaim explains that that is exactly right. The Birkas Yaakov were not only berachos to each individual, but a beracha that through each shevet’s realization of their unique beracha, there would be a spillover beracha to the others as well.  

This is the essence of the necessary mindset shift from Parshas Vayeishev to Parshas Vayechi  In Vayeishev, the brothers saw Yosef’s uniqueness as a threat. How could it be that he was special and access that which was not accessible to all of them – whether it be the relationship between Yaakov and Yosef, or as the chosen dreamer of the dreams. Now, in Parshas Vayechi, Yaakov tells them that the reality of individualism within the construct of a unit, like the duality of the twelve rocks also being one, is not only a system they have to tolerate, but one they must embrace. It is individualism itself – recognizing the unique roles and responsibilities, personalities, and approaches – which allows us to thrive collectively.  

The Shulchan Aruch (OC 90:4) codifies two elements into Halacha. He writes “it is necessary to open doorways or windows facing Yerushalayim, and ideally a shul should have twelve windows.” At a global level, we all must face Yerushalayim, however at the same time there is a recognition that while everyone will come to do the same objective avodas Hashem, it is ideal to have the infrastructure with  channel connectivity for the uniqueness that each person will undoubtedly bring, not for the sake of being different, but as a reality that each person is unique. Individualism does not put the rabim at risk, it elevates it. Truly each person’s chazak and chazak is what allows us to be collectively nischazek.  

May Hashem see the tremendous achdus of B’nei Yisroel in our time, and as we are mesayeim Sefer Beraishis, may Hashem turn the page for us as well to save us from our tzar since Simchas Torah and bring us the nissim and geulah of Sefer Shemos speedily in our times. Chazak Chazak v’Nischazek!