ח. וַיַּרְא יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶת בְּנֵי יוֹסֵף וַיֹּאמֶר מִי אֵלֶּה:
Then Israel saw Joseph's sons, and he said, "Who are these?"
What does this mean that Yaakov had to ask who was there? Who else would Yosef bring for a blessing?!Rashi says that Yaakov asked because when Ephraim and Menashe entered the room,
Yakov's shechinah left him. This was due to their future descendants that were going to be evil kings. What is another interpretation of why Yaakov asked who was there? Why are Ephraim and Menashe given a special blessing? Why do we include them in the blessing to sons Friday nights?
Or HaChaim comments on Perek Mem Chet, Pasuk Chet, because it is difficult to understand how Yakov failed to recognize his grand-sons whom he had tutored for the last 17 years on a regular basis. Or HaChaim interprets this to mean that Yakov saw with his mental eye that in the future evil people would come out of Menashe. The plain meaning of the verse is that Yakov’s eyesight had begun to fail him so that he could not see clearly and recognise people. I understand this answer of Yakov seeing with his “mental eye” as a possible reference Yaakov’s spirituality. Yakov saw through his grand-sons and into their future. When he saw the bad that would come from them he couldn’t recognize them as his own. His spiritual level allowed him to see through them but once he saw the truth he could not recognize them, that’s why he asked who they were.
ReplyDeleteSeforno says that Yaakov saw them and recognized them as people but could not remember who they were.
ReplyDeleteI think that it is very sad that Yaakov could not recognize his own grandchildren and that he had to ask who they were
^^^this is Ayala Kilimnick
DeleteRashi says that he was just asking who they were because he was giving blessings to his sons. This makes sense because he thought he was just blessing his sons and the Yosef brought his sons in. -Dalia Adams
ReplyDeleteAish.org addresses the question of why Yaakov asked who was there. The Sages explain that Yaakov saw the wicked men Yeravam, Ahab, and Yehu descending from these sons. I feel that since these are wicked people Yaakov did not want to acknowledge that these people would come from his holy sons which is why he asked who is there. It is a little bit of a reminder to check yourself and who you have or will become.
ReplyDeleteThis is jen Felder^^^
ReplyDeleteAbby Pollack
ReplyDeleteRashbam explains that even though Yaakov could not see well due to his age, it is still possible for people with very low eyesight to recognize the basic features of a person without seeing every detail. When Hashem told Moses that it was impossible for man to “see” Him, He did not mean that man is unable to see any aspect of HIm. This is why the prophet Michyahu could claim to have “seen” Him. I found this idea interesting because even without seeing every detail, we lean that one might still be able to recognize, not fully identify.
the malbim explains that yaakov was confused because Yosef's sons were dressed differently as they were wearing egyptian clothing so Yosef explained that they were wearing the royal clothing out of respect for his position. I think this is interesting because it can be applied to everyones lifes, sometimes we try to blend in with the rest of the secular world to the point where we arent recognizable as Jews and we should instead be proud that we are able to practice Judaism freely.
ReplyDelete^Meira Cohen
DeleteLilly fuchs:
ReplyDeleteThe Chizkuni comments on the words ויאמר, ״מי אלה?״,
which is translated as “who are these?” According to the plain text, Yaakov’s eyesight had gotten really bad and therefore he couldn’t even recognize his own grandchildren’s facial features. this is why he asked who they were. This is also a possibility as to why the Torah added that his failing eyesight was due to old age in Pasuk yud. However, the Torah had just previously described Yaakov as “seeing the sons of Yosef,” adds the Chizkuni. If the reason that Yaakov was unable to recognize his grandchildren was due to his dimmed vision, how could he recognize Yosef’s sons? The reason for this is that Yaakov had no trouble indentifying Yosef as he recognised him by his voice, therefore he was able to recognize Yosef’s sons. My opinion on this idea is that it really stresses the importance of learning and understanding the text as a whole. Similar to what we learned in Yonah, perspective and context are key to being able to really truly understand Tanach. Without the understanding that Yaakov could only recognize Yosef’s sons because he recognized Yosef’s voice, we would have never been able to settle How he couldn’t recognize his own grandchildren. However, after learning that the only reason he could recognize Yosef son’s was because of Yosef’s voice, we understand that his vision is a valid reason for Yaakov not being able to identify his own grandchildren. This idea shows me that understanding context and forming our perspectives based of this is so important when learning Tanach.
Rashi comments and says based off the quote,“Who are these?”, that Yosef intempted to bless them, but the Shechinah withdrew from him because of Jeroboam and Ahab, who was destined to be the children of Ephraim, and Jehu and his sons, who were destined to be the children of Manasseh. — [from Tanchuma Vayechi 6]. And Jeroboam the son of Nebat, was supposed to be the first king of the Northern Kingdom, and Ahab the son of Omri were notorious idolaters. Yosef tried to bless them but he couldn't. When he tried he the the great tragedy that would come from them. Rashi comments that the quote also needs, Where are these peoplepcome from, meaning, from where are these people born, that they are unworthy of a blessing?- [from Tanchuma Vayechi 6]. Rashi isn't saying that Yosef didn't know who these people were but instead asking why are they worthy of his blessing. Because of all the bad that is going to come from their legacy why are they worthy of receiving yosef's blessing. My question is even if their children are going to be bad people, their children aren't them. Can't Yosef bless them and not their legacy?
ReplyDeleteRashi says: ויאמר מי אלה: מהיכן יצאו אלו שאינן ראוין לברכה
ReplyDeleteYaakov says,“Who are these?” Rashi explains that yaakov is just simply asking who are these people/ From who were they born? He is also asking if they are possibly unworthy of a blessing? I think this answer makes sense. It's a pashat answer and I think it makes sense that before yaakov gives a blessing he is asking who this is and if they deserve a blessing. When yaakovs father was supposed to give his brother, Aisav, a bracha, yaakov switched with him. So maybe he's even asking who is this to make sure he's giving the right person a bracha. - Adina Nadel
וירא ישראל את בני יוסף- Yaakov recognized his two grandchildren, Ephraim and Menashe, as human beings, but didn’t actually recognize who they specifically were (Sforno). This is why Yaakov questioned “Who are these?” because he was unsure himself. I find this sad only because Yaakov had such a great love specifically for Ephraim and Menashe, and the fact that he couldn’t recongnize them when they walked into the room is so heartbreaking.
ReplyDeleteThe pshat says that yaacov was old and frail, that he couldn’t physically recognize his grandchildren. The שפתי חכמים agrees that the pshat is correct sprecifically stating that yaacaov is ״חרוש ושנה״ - plowed and old.
ReplyDelete-Sol Emunah Richter
The pasuk says that Yaakov was an old man, however he recognized his grandchildren without exactly knowing who they were (sforno). He asks who are they as he wants to know if they are deserving of a blessing. And that nobody is trying to thrick him into a blessing like with his own children. Yaakov could also Recognize Yosef's voice, which helped him recognize Yosef's sons.
ReplyDeleteRabbi Shmuel Kogan Says that the reason that it is customary to bless sons to be like Ephraim and Menashe is because they were born and raised in Egypt, in a profoundly secular society, a place where the people were not of high character. Yet they remained faithful to the morals and ideals that were espoused by their grandfather Jacob, as they were transmitted through their father Joseph. To be great amongst great people is also a challenge, but to maintain a high level of spirituality and character amongst a society that is devoid of morals and ethics is the real test. This is why Jacob chose these two boys to be his own. Therefore this is what parents want for their children.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/520258/jewish/Why-do-we-bless-our-sons-to-be-like-Ephraim-and-Manasseh.htm
Batsheva Dattelkramer
Mimi Paley:
ReplyDeleteRashi comments on the Pasuk of Yaakov saying “who are these” to Yosef’s sons and Rashi says that he was asking who they were because he was unsure if they were worthy of a blessing.
In my opinion, they all should have been worthy of a blessing but on the other hand, he should have double checked because maybe they have done something wrong and are not worthy of their grandfathers Bracha.