#69: Machshavah

We mentioned earlier this week that the first portion of the berachah given to children on Friday night is taken from the verse stating that the Jewish people should become like Ephraim and Menasheh. Why were these two individuals specifically chosen to use for this berachah?

Some explain that Ephraim and Menasheh were the first two children within the Jewish people who grew up in a foreign land (Egypt) and nevertheless managed to maintain their Jewish identity. Others explain that unlike Yitzchak and Yishmael, Yaakov and Esav, and Yosef and his brothers, these two children never fought with each other. Even when Yaakov told them that Ephraim, the younger son, would be greater than Menasheh, the older son, they did not quarrel with each other.

We thus pray that our children should follow in the footsteps of Ephraim and Menasheh and maintain their Jewish identity even in times and locations when this is difficult. In addition, we pray that our children should get along with each other and maintain peaceful relationships with each other. May we merit to see these blessings come true in our family, just as they did with Ephraim and Menasheh.

To sign up for the daily halacha via WhatsApp or email, click here.

Dedicated by Fran Broder as a zechus for the hostages to be released safely to their families and may everlasting peace come to Eretz Yisrael in the merit of learning Hilchos Shabbos.