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RABBI RICHARD C. HERTZ SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS

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We Need
Nominees!

•

We're looking for your picks of the most
interesting, successful and/or unusual busi-
nesses or businesspeople in our community,
in any category.

(1)

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CC
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Please send your nominations, including the
phone number of the person or business, by
Jan. 15 to:
Julie Edgar, Business Editor,
The Jewish News
27676 Franklin Road,
Southfield, MI 48034.

The winners will be included in our special
business edition early next year.

LLJ

24

THE JEWISH NEWS

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his sedrah is the last of the
Book of Genesis and brings
to an end the long, heroic ca-
reer of Jacob. He is now 147
years old. Having spent the last
17 years in Egypt as the guest of
his beloved son Joseph, now the
prime minister of Egypt.
Jacob has had a long and fruit-
ful life. He has been reunited with
his brother Esau, whom he cheat-
ed out of the birthright. He has
lived through the rape of his
daughter Dinah. He has seen his
son Joseph disappear after his oth-
er sons sold him to Egypt. He has
witnessed a return and reuniting
of the brothers.
Now he is old and ill, nearly
blind, probably with cataracts.
One thing he wants before he dies
is to bless his grandsons whom
Joseph had given him. Jacob had
instructed his sons to bury him in
the cave at Machpelah which
Abraham had bought from
Ephraim the Hittite for a burial
site and where Abraham and
Sarah were buried as well as Isaac
and his wife Rebecca and even Ja-
cob's first wife, Leah. All were
buried at Machpelah. And Jacob,
too, wanted to be buried there
with his people.
When Jacob realized his end
had come, he called for his two
grandsons and asked Joseph to
bring them to him. The grandsons,
Mannasseh and Ephraim, were
born in Egypt. When Joseph
brought the two boys to Jacob, he
called out, "Who are these?"
Joseph said to his father, "These
are my sons whom God has given
me!" "Bring them to me," said Is-
rael, "that I may bless them." And
Israel said to Joseph, "I never ex-
pected to see you again and here
God has let me see your children
as well."
Joseph brought the two to his
father, Ephraim with his right
hand to Israel's left and Man-
nasseh on the left hand to Israel's
right hand. But the aged patriarch
stretched out his right hand and
laid it on Ephraim's head because
he was the younger and his left
hand on Mannasseh's head even
though Mannasseh was the first
born.
But when Joseph saw his fa-
ther placing his right hand on
Ephraim's head, he thought it
wrong. He took his father's hand
and tried to move it from
Ephraim's head to Mannasseh's.
Jacob objected saying, "I know, my

Dr. Richard C. Hertz is a
distinguished professor of
Jewish studies at the University
of Detroit-Mercy.

son; I know. He, too, shall become
a people. And he, too shall be
great. Yet, his younger brother
shall be greater than he and his
off-spring shall be plentiful enough
for nations." Then be blessed them
saying, "By you shall Israel evoke
blessings saying, God make you
like Ephraim and Mannasseh."
Israel felt his life was now com-
plete. The blessing of Abraham
which Isaac had bestowed on him
had now passed on down to his
children's children.
Jacob now called for his sons
that he could bless them, too. He
gave each one a blessing which
was prophetic in that each son
bore the name of a tribe later es-
tablished in the land of Canaan.
Scholars believed that Jacob's
blessing welded together prophe-
cies that would many years later
he fulfilled when the tribes were
already in Canaan before they
were a nation. Biblical scholars
recognized 12 tribes as different
from each other as 12 sons could
be. The 12 tribes in later history
were melted together as a nation,
each tribe being named after one
of Jacob's sons.
When Jacob finished the bless-
ing of his sons, he was "gathered
unto his people." Joseph realized
his father had died. He wept over
him and kissed him. Joseph com-
manded his servants and physi-
cians to embalm his father, which
was the custom in Egypt. The
time of memorial grew to 70 days.
Finally, Joseph went to Pharaoh
and asked for permission to bring
his father back to the land of
Canaan and bury him there as
Joseph had sworn to his father
that he would do. A long funeral
procession ensued, with Joseph
leading with his chariot and horse-
men back to Canaan. They buried
Jacob in the cave of Machpelah.
After the internment, Joseph re-
turned to Egypt.
One final episode occurred af-
ter the funeral. Joseph's brethren
were worried that Joseph would
remember all that they had done
to him in the early years and
would now try to get even with
them. but Joseph said to his broth-
ers, "Fear not, for am I in the place
of God? As for you, you meant evil
against me but God meant it for
good to bring to pass to save many
people's lives. So, do not fear, I will
sustain you and your little ones."
Thus, did Joseph speak kindly
unto his brothers.
Not long after, scripture says
that Joseph died being 110 years
old. They embalmed his and his
was put in a coffin in Egypt.
So, the Book of Genesis ends. ❑