Making Sense of the Sedra: Vayechi
A lesson in unity
In March 2017, snowstorms grounded flights in much of the USA. This left Republican Congressman Will Hurd and Democrat Congressman Beto O’Rourke with a common predicament – they both had to get to Washington for a vote at 6pm the next day. Despite bitter divisions between the American right and left, the two men put aside their political differences and teamed up to share the 1,600-mile drive from Texas. By the time they got there, neither had changed their views, but each considered the other a friend.
Perhaps the two men were following the example set in this week’s parsha, Vayechi. As Yaakov nears the end of his life, he gives blessings and advice to each of his sons – in the presence of the others. We might expect such a personal conversation to be held behind closed doors. Yet we find that nothing is private; everything is shared.
Rav Yaakov Kamenetsky (1891-1986, USA), in his book Emet Le’Yaakov, explains that Yaakov gathered his children together to create unity among them. Each tribe’s blessing related to their own unique role in the world. When each brother heard, they understood that each of them was equally vital in the future of the Jewish nation. No one could dismiss their brother’s significance.
We often mistakenly believe that unity requires everyone to become clones of each other, with the same tastes and opinions. In fact, unity refers to peaceful co-existence and shared goals. It means respect for the other, even if they play a different role.
The partnership between Yissachar and Zevulun, mentioned in this week’s parsha, exemplifies this. Zevulun engages in business while Issachar learns Torah. The two tribes each need the other. Neither is self-sufficient.
As we negotiate the many challenges that face us, we must remember that God does not expect the Jewish people to be carbon copies of each other. God created twelve tribes, each with a different purpose and role.
Let us learn to co-exist and respect the special contribution that each person adds. By internalising Yaakov’s eternal lesson of unity, we can make our community stronger.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
