Question: Explain the significance of this Biblical parallelism:

'Simeon and Levi are a pair;
instruments of crime are their wares.
Let my soul not enter their plot;
let my spirit not unite with their meeting -
for they have killed men with anger,
maimed bulls with will.
Cursed be their rage, for it is fierce,
and their fury, for it is cruel.
I will disperse them in Jacob,
scatter them in Israel. (Genesis 49:5-7)


Parshat Vayechi: A Time to Act
I will summarize a short thought from the Lechem Abiram (Parshat Vayechi has always been a hard parsha for me for making divrei Torah).

"Israel saw Joseph's sons. 'Who are these?' he asked. 'They are the sons that God gave me like this,' replied Joseph to his father" (Genesis 48:8-9)

It is strange that Jacob did not recognize his grandchildren. Rashi explains that Jacob saw through Ruach HaKodesh that evil leaders who would cause Israel to sin would descend from Joseph's sons. Thus, he was fearful of blessing them.

Joseph responds by saying "they are the sons that G-d gave me like this" (a literal translation of Genesis 48:9).

Like this. Do not look into the future. Right now, they are righteous. Bless them. And indeed, Jacob does.

We all make calculations (and don't get me wrong, thinking is important, very important) but the fact is that G-d wants us to do His plain will. There are times when we make calculations and deep down we know we are not doing the right thing. The message for us is to just look to the present and do what we must.

Have a good Shabbas,
Mordechai