TORAH FROM THE CHEVRA
Zev Amster
If you could choose one thing to bless your child with, would you choose to bless him to be like a dangerous, vicious animal? That’s exactly what Ya’akov Aveinu did when he blessed that Yehudah be like a “young lion”, Dan a “snake on the road”, and Binyamin a “predatory wolf”. What was Ya’akov Aveinu thinking? He could have at least chosen animals with more civil, less vicious traits like a sheep, a calf, or even an ox. These animals have many redeeming characteristics, including that they are kosher and can be used as korbanos.
The answer lies in examining the common denominators/tzad hashaveh shebahen between the lion, snake, and wolf. Yes, they are all dangerous, injurious creatures, but what makes them so powerful? Rav Avigdor Miller says that the key element in these three wild animals is that they all possess “the quality of energy, of verve and vigor that Ya’akov wanted to see in the future of his children.” From this, Rav Miller issues a call of action, saying that this is Hashem’s way of saying, “I’m looking for people who will do something in this world…people who have strength of character, not weeklings. People who have verve, who have life in them, people who will accomplish and get things done!”
As descendants of Ya’akov Aveinu, we can choose to be be recipients of this powerful blessing by living lives of purpose, strength, and action each and every day! Baruch Hashem we are all part of a dynamic, wonderful kehilla here at LINK, a makom in which we can support and encourage each other to live lives of purpose, strength, meaning, and growth.
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