בס”ד
A THOUGHT ABOUT PARSHAT VAYECHI 5785
| Some time afterward, Joseph was told, “Your father is ill.” So he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. | וַיְהִ֗י אַחֲרֵי֙ הַדְּבָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֔לֶּה וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לְיוֹסֵ֔ף הִנֵּ֥ה אָבִ֖יךָ חֹלֶ֑ה וַיִּקַּ֞ח אֶת־שְׁנֵ֤י בָנָיו֙ עִמּ֔וֹ אֶת־מְנַשֶּׁ֖ה וְאֶת־אֶפְרָֽיִם׃ |
This is the first time in the Tanakh that illness is explicitly mentioned, namely the moment when Jacob became ill. Before Jacob’s time, illness as we know it did not exist in the world. The Sages explain that before Jacob’s time, when a person sneezed, this was considered an unmistakable sign that the person would die immediately. This phenomenon was regarded as a fixed and immutable law. Sneezing marked a sudden and direct transition from life to death. Jacob, however, with his profound wisdom and connection to G-d, prayed to the Creator to change this fate. He implored G-d to grant people the opportunity to have time before their end came so that they could put their affairs in order and bid farewell to their loved ones.
G-d listened to Jacob’s prayer and introduced illness into the world. This not only gave people a moment of transition but also the chance to conclude their lives in a meaningful way. When Jacob fell ill, it is noteworthy that “someone”—the text does not specify who—told Joseph that his father was ill. Rav Hirsch points out that this detail is remarkable. Jacob did not summon Joseph personally, even though he wanted to tell him something of great importance. Instead, the text merely states that someone informed Joseph. This messenger was likely Ephraim, who often studied with Jacob and thus was close to him.
Jacob wanted to convey something significant and profound to Joseph, namely the birthright of Joseph’s sons. This symbolized a great responsibility and a lasting legacy. Yet Jacob chose to let Joseph come to him of his own accord, driven by care and love for his ailing father. This detail contains a valuable lesson for us, even in modern times: the responsibility to take the initiative to care for our loved ones, especially in times of need.
The fact that Jacob became ill also gave him the opportunity to address his children and share his final will and blessings with them. This moment was of great importance; it teaches us that our final words can reflect the essence of our lives. It allows the dying person to pass on their experiences, wisdom, and profound insights to their loved ones at that moment. The final words of a dying person often carry special significance, not only because of their content but also due to the emotional context in which they are spoken. These words remain etched in the memory of the listeners because they are shared during a time of intense sorrow and reflection.
The impact of Jacob’s prayer and the change it brought about extended beyond his own family. Even the kings of the world were deeply impressed by this story and the transformation of the dying process. Sneezing, once a sign of sudden death, was transformed through Jacob’s prayer into a sign of life. This miraculous story has resonated through the ages. That is why it has become customary for people in all languages, cultures, and traditions to wish each other “health” when someone sneezes. This simple gesture reminds us that sneezing is now a moment of life and connection, not a sudden transition to death.
By Angelique Sijbolts
With thanks to Rabbi Tani Burton for his feedback
Sources:
Chizkuni and Sifei Chakhamim on this verse.
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