It is widely known that Yaakov Avinu switched his hands when
giving a bracha to Efraim and Menashe. In Judaism, the right hand generally
comes first, but in this case, Yaakov placed his right hand on Efraim and left
on Menashe even though Menashe was older. This is not the only switch from
younger to older in this week's Parsha. Yaakov also switches the order of the
brachot that he gives his sons. In Bereishit 49:13-15 he gives Zevulun a bracha
before Yissachar even though Yissachar is older. Why does he make this switch?
The Chizkuni provides an explanation. According to him, Yaakov blesses Zevulun,
who was involved in business matters, first because he supported Yissachar, who
learned Torah all day. Zevulun’s hard work allowed his brother, Yissachar, to study
Torah. Chazal teaches us that “Greater is the enabler than the doer” (Bava
Basra 9a), meaning that one who enables another to do a mitzvah is greater than
the one who actually performs the mitzvah. By facilitating the learning of
Torah, one not only displays great honor for Torah, but also merits tremendous
Zechut. Zevulun deserved to go before Yissachar in the brachot because he made
it possible for Yissachar to live his life the way that he wanted, engrossed in
Torah study. Yaakov Avinu, in changing the order of the Brachot, is teaching us
the importance of facilitating Torah study in Jewish life. The enabling of
performing mitzvot is an essential Jewish value that gets rewarded just as
much, if not more, than the actual completion of the mitzvah.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Steven Penn
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