Miller's Musings Parshas Vayechi: Introspection then Direction

בס''ד

A brocho is an incredibly powerful device through which one can bestow tremendous good upon another.  We are told that even the blessings of a simple person should not be insignificant in one’s eyes because they carry within them the potential to grant incredible gifts to those that receive them.  A brocho from Yaakov therefore must necessarily provide even greater rewards, yet some of the brochos he gives to his children seem less like brochos and more like critiques of the individuals and their behaviour.  What was Yaakov’s intentions with these ‘blessings’ and how do they fit in with our concept of a brocho?  

The brocho that a person wants is dependent upon what they consider to be important, but a real brocho is one that gives a person the ability to gain what is truly of value.  A brocho is not only expressing a desire for someone to be given something, it is a way of influencing that person’s life in a positive way.   Our belief is that was is of most worth is whatever perfects us as people and allows us to complete our task in this world.  A large part of this is knowing who we are so that we know what we individually are meant to achieve.  Consequently providing this awareness was one of the greatest blessings that Yaakov could have given to his sons as it allowed them to perceive their true nature and the goals that defined their unique role in creation.

Life can be very confusing.  What our role is and what we are meant to achieve can at times be unclear and difficult to fully fathom.  The manner in which we are expected to realize our purpose can seem to alter from time to time depending on what situation we find ourselves in and even perhaps our frame of mind at that particular juncture of our life.  So how does one determine what their life’s focus should be and what course their aspirations should take?  Perhaps the only place to start is not by looking outside of oneself and what potential paths lie before you, but by looking within and recognising who you truly are.  The areas of our character that our deficient in some way are the starting point for our mission of self-improvement and personality refinement.  The strengths that we possess are the gifts we are given by G-d to utilise and actualise our yet unrealized goals.  What can you do that will make the world a better place?  Ok, now do it.  Without some form of honest introspection we can not know anything about our place in the ultimate plan for the world’s completion.  Genuinely knowing oneself is the surest way to ensure we lead the life that we are meant to.  

*May the power of Shabbos guide us*

לעילוי נשמת לאה בת אברהם

לרפואה שלימה:  שרה יעל בת ברכה אסתר