Creative Blessings
Whenever possible we should make an attempt to bless one another, because the mere exercise of blessing has the capacity to actualize latent positive qualities. Our wanting behavior may belie the true positive motivation behind our actions. All that we have to do is remove the negative crust that distorts our true.
Omitted Blessings
As Jacob prepares for his passing, he summons all of his sons to his bedside for his final blessings to them. To each and every son Jacob imparted his final blessing.
There is, however one anomaly in this narrative. The tribes of Shimon and Levi were not blessed but reprimanded. After citing several things that they did wrong — the massacre of the city of Shechem and the sale of Joseph — Jacob concludes: “Cursed shall be their anger for it is mighty.”
True, a father has a right to rebuke his sons. But, why did he not bless them as well? And isn’t it strange that Levi — destined to be the progenitor of an entire tribe of priests and the ancestor of the two greatest Jews ever, Moses and Aaron — of all sons should not be blessed?
Rashi, in anticipation of this question, comments on the verse that appears at the end of the twelve blessings, that Jacob included all of his sons — even the ones he did not expressly bless — in his general blessing that followed the individual ones.
But there is still a need to understand why he didn’t give them their own individual blessing as well.
Cursing Anger
To understand the reason why Jacob did not give them their own individual blessing, it is necessary to analyze the words of rebuke Jacob gave Shimon and Levi. “Cursed should be their anger.” Rashi notes that Jacob did not curse them but their anger.
One could raise an obvious question. The fact that Shimon and Levi had a temper paled in comparison with the destruction of a city and the sale of a brother. Yet it appears that Jacob was more upset at their temperament rather than at their actions. Isn’t it rather strange that Jacob should put a greater emphasis on their temperament than on their behavior?
The answer to all these questions lies in the realization that Shimon and Levi did not need Jacob’s blessings for they were truly blessed with the keenest sensitivity. Their attack of the city of Shechem was motivated by their moral outrage and their love for their sister who was violated by the son of the mayor of that city.
Even their treatment of Joseph was based on their feeling that Joseph’s moral behavior was wanting.
Thus Jacob would not curse them and not even make the biggest fuss about their extreme actions. What Shimon and Levi needed was to take the beautiful gem of sensitivity that they possessed and remove the dirt that dulled its sheen. This dirt was their propensity to anger.
Didn’t Need the Blessing
Once Jacob cursed their anger, thereby giving them the spiritual energy to remove the blemish of anger that stained their otherwise pure and sensitive souls, they were not in need of any additional blessing.
A blessing is not just an expression of good wishes for another. A true blessing is where one enables another to release their hidden potential for goodness.
Shimon and Levi, whose positive traits were already well defined and clearly manifested, needed only the removal of the negative crust that rendered their sensitivity and passion harmful. Removal of their anger alone would allow their natural qualities to flourish..
Focus on the Trait, Not the Person
There are several lessons in this entire episode for all of us, particularly in our own day and age. Firstly, even when we reprimand one for their undesirable traits we should never curse them, just their evil traits.
Secondly, whenever possible we should make an attempt to bless one another, because the mere exercise of blessing has the capacity to actualize latent positive qualities.
Thirdly, one’s wanting behavior may belie the true positive motivation that one has. All that we have to do is help that person remove the negative crust that distorts the true nature of the individual.
Fourthly, this narrative serves as a source of inspiration for us:
As we await the imminent arrival of Moshiach and are well aware of our shortcomings, we ask ourselves: Are we so deserving of Moshiach?
The answer is that underneath the undesirable traits that we might have is a positive and holy character. The final removal of the residual cover that obscures the goodness will be removed by Moshiach. Thus, even those among us who are in need of Jacob’s words of rebuke, are truly gems, who are ready for the final Redemption.
From the book Light from the Future: Parshas Vayechi by Rabbi Heschel Greenberg, published by the Jewish Discovery Center.
