The Jewish Home

by Rabbi Mordechai Rhine

The Parsha begins by reviewing the names of Yakov’s children who entered Egypt. One wonders: Why does the Torah need to repeat their names? Anyone who has been studying Torah until now hasn’t forgotten the names of Yakov’s children.

Even more troubling is the order in which the brothers are listed. The list starts off in a predictable way: Reuvein, Shimon, Levi, Yehudah, Yisochar, Zevulun- all children of Leah. But then we encounter the name of Binyomin. We know that Binyomin was the youngest of the twelve brothers, so it seems odd that his name should be listed as number seven. What exactly is the order in which the names are listed?

If you study the order in which the brothers are listed you will notice a simple pattern. The brothers are listed in the order that Yakov married their mothers. First he married Leah, so all her children are listed. Next he married Rochel, so Binyomin is listed next. Following these marriages, first Rochel, then Leah gave their maidservants to Yakov in marriage. Their children are listed next. In other words: the brothers are listed in the order that each Jewish home was founded.

The forces of the Egyptian exile were very significant. Most nations would have disappeared if they had experienced what we did. For over a century, the Jewish family was under pressure to make it disappear. Initially, the exile was a pleasant one, and the Jewish people were tempted to assimilate into Egyptian society. Later a different kind of pressure was applied, as our nation was singled out for slavery. The Torah recounts the names of the tribes for a very important reason. The Torah wants to remind us that they survived because of the Jewish Home

In Jewish tradition, the Jewish Home is referred to as a mini-Sanctuary. Not only do we have the gifts of synagogues and a yeshiva system, but Judaism finds its truest and most personal mark in the coziness of the Jewish home. It is here that husband and wife chart their direction and that of their family. It is in this trusting environment that a person can find his or her own personal satisfaction in Judaism. If you would like to understand how the Jewish Family survived the challenges described in the Parsha, you must understand how they identified themselves. They didn’t view themselves in order of birth or some other meaningless sequence. They viewed themselves in the order that their respective Jewish families were founded, because the Jewish family is what was important to them.

We are today during the Jewish time of year called “Shovivim,” a time designated to strengthen the Jewish Home. There will be numerous classes and discussion groups throughout the community, and I encourage you to attend them. To strengthen your Jewish home is to strengthen the Jewish people at its foundation. It is our hope that just as the Jewish home was an island of fortitude and serenity in the past, so may it be for us in our generation as well.

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With best wishes for a wonderful Shabbos!