2023/5783
Every Friday night, before the meal, many have the common practice of children receiving a Berachah from a parent. In this Berachah are the words from our Parashah: “ישמך אלהים כאפרים וכמנשה,” “Hashem should guard you like Ephraim and Menasheh” (BeReishit 48:20). The question arises: why do we wish to be like Ephraim and Menasheh, as opposed to any of the Avot or Shevatim? What was so special about Ephraim and Menasheh?
Perhaps we can see what was so special about them by looking into their background. Being born into a debased Egyptian society is very hard, especially as a Jew. Yet, Ephraim and Menashe prevailed. Living in Egypt put much pressure on any Jew, but Yaakov Avinu saw the good in Ephraim and Menasheh. These grandchildren could overcome all the pressure and still be Bnei Torah. Their passion for Hashem and Bnei Yisrael is apparent. Ephraim and Menasheh were also the first siblings in the Torah not to have a rivalry. They maintained their relationship and respected each other in every way. In the Pesukim it says, “וישלח ישראל את־ימינו וישת על־ראש אפרים והוא הצעיר ואת־שמאלו על־ראש מנשה שכל את־ידיו כי מנשה הבכור,” “But Yaakov stretched out his right hand and laid it on Ephraim’s head, though he was the younger, and his left hand on Menasheh’s head—thus crossing his hands—although Menasheh was the first-born.” (BeReishit 48:14).
Even though Menasheh was the firstborn, he wasn't on the right side of Yaakov—he was on the left. Despite being placed on the inferior side, Menasheh let it go and didn't cause any trouble. This shows the brothers' respect for each other; they did not fight after what happened.
Now we can understand why Yaakov chose Ephraim and Menasheh for the Berachah our fathers give us on Shabbat. No matter what happened, they never forgot about Hashem and their Yiddishkeit and did not buy into Egyptian culture. This attitude, in turn, is transferred to us by our parents giving us a Berachah to avoid what society puts in our way and to commit our life to Hashem and Torah, and do everything we can to represent Him to our fullest.