Making Sense of the Sedra: Vayechi

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.