Parshas Vayeach 5770 ufruf of Mathew Schaikewitz

Making it in galus the Diaspora, is really what we are all about. Ever since the doors of the ghetto began to open in Western Europe circa 1800 we Jews have struggled to enjoy the freedom of emancipation while not losing our jewishness. A host of different approaches have been tried with varying degrees of success. If we think that we have it down pat I ask you to explain why according to a survey out this week, 25% of children from Orthodox homes who attend non Jewish Universities drop their observance. This seems to be true even of students who have spent the de rigueur year in Israel according to a speaker from the OU who spoke at the Young Israel last year. According to this speaker the drop out rates are higher as academic achievement rises. Let’s try to get a handle on this very real issue.

In this weeks parsha Jacob blesses his grandchildren Ephraim and Menasha the first two Jewish children successfully raised in the Diaspora. When blessing them a strange event occurs. Even though Menasha is situated on Jacobs right and Ephraim on Jacobs left Jacob places his right hand on the younger Ephraim and his left hand on the older Menasha. Josef the father protests the error but Jacob assures him that his actions are intentional.
Why did Jacob swap his hands and why upon seeing this did Josef feel the need to protest.


There are two fundamental approaches to the service of Hashem. One is through awe of Hashem. It goes like this: He is so great, I am so small. How dare I even consider not doing His will.

The other approach is through love of Hashem. It goes like this. I love Hashem and want to be as near as possible to Him therefore I do whatever he wants.

The awe approach with its fear of punishment angle is noted for keeping people from sin. The love approach is outstanding for its ability to motivate to do well. Rabbi Shalom Noah Berzovsky is his work Nesivos Shalom notes that the sons of Josef were representatives of the two models. The name Menasha recalls how Hashem has helped Josef in the struggle with the hardship of exile and being separated from family. The name Ephraim refers to expanse and growth in the exile. Based on this rabbi Berzovsky offers that Josef and Yaakov had a fundamental dispute about how a Jew conducts himself in the Diaspora. Josef said that the awe and fear of sin approach is the only thing strong enough to keep a Jews from giving in to the temptation of all that surrounds him. Therefore Menasha should get the primary blessing. Yaakov knows both of these approaches from his father awe and fear, and his grandfather, love. Yaakov has achieved a balance. Kabalistic terminology refers to Yaakov as tifferes or glory. Glory balances fear opposite love by imbuing both with Torah. When a person is imbued with Torah then they can and should utilize the love approach even in the Diaspora. Even when being bombarded with lures and attractions that are antithetical to Judaism. That is because the beauty of the Torah will provide an attraction that can combat the other attractions. Yaakov knew that Ephraim’s love of Hashem would win out because Ephraim was grounded in the Torah. This also why Yaakov sent yehudah ahead to Egypt to establish school before the family arrived.
Fear of sin and divine retribution clearly do not keep Yossi away from Megan. In truth love of g-d won’t do it either. Megan is too available and G-d to distant. Only when G-d is clear and present will the love of G-d win out. That only comes to people who are imbued with the torah. Memorable Israel experiences are great but there is no substitute for substantive Torah knowledge. This is probably why many who immerse themselves in Torah choose to pursue their careers in a Jewish environment It can be done and it has been done and this morning we are celebrating the successful navigation through the sea of the Diaspora. Mathew Schaikewitz is the model. Immersed in torah and imbued with a love of Hashem. We are taught that when parents name a child there is an element of prophesy that comes to them. I believe that this is certainly the case when some 23 years ago Pearl and Steve chose the name Matya Ephraim. May you and your kallah experience the blessing of Yaakov right hand.
My thanks to Rabbi Garfield for forwarding to me an article that deals with the study that I mentioned.  This article is worth reading.  The Elelphant In The Room ://thejewishstar.wordpress.com/2009/10/13/opinion-the-lephant-in-the-room/