Firsts ( A Repost from 2021)

#vayechi #parshatvayechi #seferbreisheet #genesis #jacob #yaakov #jacobsblessings #blessings #berchot #theblessingsofthesons #efraimandmenashe #breisheetcomestoanend

There is a curious incident in Parshat Vayechi. As Ya’akov approaches his final days, he calls for his children to bless them. Yosef is informed that his father is on his death bed so he travels to see him and brings along his two sons, Efrayim and Menashe.

Noticing Joseph’s sons, Israel asked, “Who are these?”

And Joseph said to his father, “They are my sons, whom God has given me here.” “Bring them up to me,” he said, “that I may bless them.”

Now Israel’s eyes were dim with age; he could not see. So [Joseph] brought them close to him, and he kissed them and embraced them.

Genesis 48: 8-10

In an odd moment, perhaps because Yaakov was blind from his advanced age, he asks who these children are? We ask ourselves why Yaakov would ask this question? Is he indeed blind, as his father was when he was elderly? Had Yaakov see his grandchildren infrequently during the intervening seventeen years since he arrived in Goshen?

Although Mefarshim have theories based on text as to why Yosef's children were not in contact with Ya'akov, I would like to suggest an idea not based on text, but based on the way grandparents see their grandchildren. Perhaps the beauty of grandparenthood is that each time a grandparent sees a grandchild it is though they are seeing them with the deep affection of that first wonderful glance. Perhaps a frivolous thought, but very much in the spirit of grandparenthood. It never gets old.

I went back to a post four years ago, when our oldest grandchildren was Bat mitzvahed. This is indeed a grandparent post, so I share it here with you this week again on a week where blessings are offered to children and grandchildren alike.

Wishing you a year ahead where you bless others and are blessed in return.

Leann

---

Firsts

Chapter 1

There was the first time that you watched

the Wizard of Oz in color.

The first time you heard The Beatles,

your first Toll House cookie.

There is the first time that you drove on your own,

your first time travelling on a plane,

and the first time you drank coffee.

There is the first time you left home.

For each of these firsts, you learned to live your life anew.

There was that one walk down the aisle when you wed

and only one first night in a new home,

new shadows and noises.

There was only one day which was your first day at a new job.

There was only one time that you gave birth to your first child

There was one life changing moment

when you went from being childless to having children.

Perhaps you do these things more than once

and each time you are in awe.

You thank God for good things,

your gratitude complete;

but there is only one first.

Chapter Two

When you had children there was a new set of firsts

First steps, first words, first teeth, first bike rides,

first days of school, first B'nai Mitzvah, first days of camp,

 first recitals and plays, first driving lessons,

first proms, first acceptance letters,

and then there was the first day in the house without them

when they flew away.

There were first girlfriends and boyfriends

First meetings of strangers

who became your beloved sons and daughters.

and then,

perhaps this was one of the best firsts,

first time walking a child down the aisle.

And there were more firsts.

Your first gray hair.

First wrinkles, too.

The firsts come came so quickly,

and with each one you said a prayer.

You thanked your lucky stars that you were there to see,

to be there at all.

You were humbled by these firsts.

Chapter 3

You are getting older now,

your parents are gone.

You are now the older generation.

The firsts are savored slowly

and most deliberately.

You take nothing for granted.

And you are so blessed

as grandchildren come.

Each their own first,

a new universe is created

in their tiny hands and feet.

You watch as your children experience their firsts.

You look on as they watch their children

and you understand what they are feeling;

their boundless love, their uncertainty,

their fears, their pride, their passion for their children.

And this is where this story brings us

to another first.

This first, as sweet as honey,

to stand at the torah next to your granddaughter,

who is as tall as you,

her black hair falls like satin on her dress.

As she reads torah you stand beside her,

humbled, proud, speechless.

Your daughter sits behind you,

 your first child,

her first child.

A treasure trove of firsts

all in one moment, in one place.

There is no ending to this story,

just profound gratitude

and hope.

Firsts.

---

“Bring them up to me,” he said, “that I may

bless them.”

Now Israel’s eyes were dim with age; he could

not see.

So [Joseph] brought them close to him, and

he kissed them and embraced them.

לִרְא֑וֹת וַיַּגֵּ֤שׁ אֹתָם֙ אֵלָ֔יו

וַיִּשַּׁ֥ק לָהֶ֖ם

וַיְחַבֵּ֥ק לָהֶֽם׃

Genesis 48:10