ויברכם ביום ההוא לאמר בך יברך ישראל לאמר ישימך אלקים כאפרים וכמנשה ... (מח-כ)
Parshas Vayechi is the parsha of berachos. It is the final words of a father to his children expressing his love, advice and blessing to each one individually according to his needs. "ויחי" means to live, and we may add that the purpose of living is certainly to bless others and to count our blessings. From the first words of Yaakov we can learn what is the prerequisite of acquiring a beracha. We know that a beracha must be חל on something - meaning that a person has to make some effort in order to help himself so that the beracha be fulfilled. The Bnei Yaakov are told, “GATHER TOGETHER and hear ....” and we too are meant to internalize this message. If you want a beracha for yourself, your family, your community, the key is to GATHER TOGETHER. Make every effort to live with achdus, with true compassion and brotherly love.
No one should ever think that he is insignificant, or that other people are brighter, more talented or more capable than him. Every one of us has a unique and individual mission in this world. Every one of us is beloved and precious to Hashem. Every one of us is crucial to bringing the world to its completion, using our individual talents in the service of Hashem.
When Yaakov blessed his grandsons, Ephraim and Menashe, he said, “Through YOU all of Israel will be blessed.” In many Jewish homes on Friday night, the father blesses his sons to be like Ephraim and Menashe, and not like the Avos, Avraham, Yitzchok and Yaakov, because more than anything else a father wants his children to love each other, and live with achdus. This is his greatest nachas - whereas his greatest tzaar is when his children fight! When Yaakov switched his hands and gave Ephraim the older son’s beracha and Menashe the younger son’s beracha, there was no jealousy between them! There was only pure love and peace between them. Their achdus was the source of their blessing’s fruition.
May we all be wise enough to promote peace above all and may all the blessings we receive come true.