Parshas Vayechi 5786
- Torah Tavlin
- Jan 1
- 2 min read
המלאך הגאל אתי מכל רע יברך את הנערים ויקרא בהם שמי ושם אבתי ... וידגו לרב בקרב הארץ (מח-טז)
Yaakov Avinu bentches his son Yosef with the famous beracha of "המלאך הגואל אותי מכל רע", which concludes with, “may they multiply like fish.” What’s the significance of that metaphor? Rashi explains that fish are above עין הרע, and are therefore not affected by it. The beracha is that Klal Yisroel should be fruitful and multiply without the fear of עין הרע.
My cousin, R’ Yankel Goldberg, reminded me of a beautiful machshava from the Zaida explaining the comparison of a Yid to fish. In order to enable us to eat from a kosher animal, many requirements must be met. First, it necessitates שחיטה. Second, the שחיטה itself can render the animal a טריפה. Then, upon inspection, there are eighteen other issues that can make it into a טריפה. Even if all that checks out, we are still not allowed to consume the meat until its blood is removed. And then if some milk falls in it, it can become אסור due to the prohibition of בשר בחלב. Clearly a complex process.
Conversely, fish preparation is a relatively simple procedure. As long as it has its two required simanim, it’s מותר to eat. Just bang it on its head and once its dead, viola! you’ve got yourself a meal. No שחיטה, no נבילה, no טריפה; and it’s pareve!
The Zaida (Baal Machsheves Halev) explains that our precious Jewish kinderlach are like that too. We instill in them Yiddishe simanim and they will forever remain kosher, no matter what. It might not seem that way at times, but their “pintele yid” in the deepest crevices of their neshamos remain holy. Forever!
Perhaps we can add that the same holds true in our relationship with הקב"ה. Each and every one of us are בנים למקום, chosen sons and daughters of the Almighty, regardless of our current spiritual matzav. Hashem loves us and cherishes that relationship. That, in and of itself, is ample reason to do our best to make Him proud!