VAYIGASH 5777
TWICE BLESSED

January 5, 2017
7 Tevet 5777

Then Joseph brought Jacob… and presented him to Pharaoh, and Jacob blessed Pharaoh… Jacob (again) blessed Pharaoh and left Pharaoh's presence [Genesis 47: 7, 10].

The Torah records that Jacob, when coming before Pharaoh and departing from him, offered a blessing. The Torah, however, does not reveal the content of these blessings, and the commentators have sought to fill in this gap.

One view is that upon entering, Jacob blessed Pharaoh with shalom, peace within his land and in Egypt's relationship with its neighbors. A nation at peace both within and without its borders is truly a blessing to its ruler and his people. Upon departing, Jacob blessed Pharaoh that the Nile River, Egypt's source of water, would "rise up" toward Pharaoh, thereby enabling all of Egypt to dwell in a land plenty.

Jacob's twin blessings are relevant to our lives and our aspirations. While we are not rulers of a nation, our homes are appropriately perceived as our personal castles. Do we not strive for the blessing of shalom–the blessing of shalom bayit–of a household and family that creates and dwells in a warm and peaceful environment? While family life does engender tensions, a home in which there is mutual respect and great love is a home blessed with true shalom.

Jacob's second blessing, that the Nile rise up to water Egypt's fields thereby assuring successful harvests, also speaks to us. While poverty does not prevent shalom bayit, life is certainly made much easier when there are sufficient funds to live with a measure of financial security and comfort. The obvious caveat is that the focus on material acquisitions not become so compelling that it chips away at the shalom bayit which should always be our fondest hope.

Jacob's blessings to Pharaoh touched a nerve at this moment of American history. These blessings are the source of the tradition that, when in the presence of a head of state, we recite a blessing celebrating that God has endowed some of His honor and glory to flesh and blood.

In a bit more than two weeks, Donald Trump will be inaugurated as the 44th president of the United States. His ascendency has been celebrated by his followers and feared by the many who abhor his pronouncements and behavior.

A commitment to democracy, however, requires that we accept that there can only be one President, who is also bound by the principle of equality before the law. Thus his simple oath of office is that he will protect and defend the Constitution, and once settled in the Oval Office, must always be cognizant that he is the President of all Americans.

Hopefully Donald Trump will embrace policies that promote peace both within and without our borders.

May our homes and our nation be recipients of these beautiful blessings attributed to Jacob.

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From the holy city of Jerusalem my best wishes for a Shabbat Shalom u'Mevorach– a Shabbat of peace and of blessing.

Rabbi Arnold M. Goodman