Page:A Jewish Interpretation of the Book of Genesis (Morgenstern, 1919, jewishinterpreta00morg).pdf/347

Rh 329

Jacob's Blessing

merit

too,

the

fathers of old,

beautiful

"God make

and comforting blessing of our, thee as Ephraim and as Manas-

seh".

The die, that

rabbis also told that our father Jacob did not really

God merely

kissed him, and thus released his soul

His body was laid to rest in the sepulchre But his spirit hovers over and about us, his children, blessing us by his presence, and smiling the smile of love and happiness, when any of his descendants performs one single act which brings blessing unto others, and so helps to fulfil the birthright of Abraham and Israel. One other thought, the rabbis remind us, these closing chapters of Genesis suggest. Abraham and Isaac had sought to bless but one son each, and thereby they caused enmity and strife between their children. But on his deathbed Jacob summoned his sons and blessed them all equally, and bade them stand together and become strong in each other's love and help. They had realized the evil of family strife and discord, and they had repented of their crime against their

from

his body.

of his fathers.

Thereafter they remained united as their father had bidden them, and not they alone, but their descendants

brother.

as well. ence,

Thus

in time, the people of Israel

and we are here today.

It

is

came

into exist-

the best proof of

great truth, so well exemplified in the history of our

beloved American nation, that It

in

union there

reminds us of one other of the

many

is

the

own

strength.

beautiful stories

which the rabbis used to tell. In the beginning, when the world lay newly created by the word of God, the waters rolled in great billows, and beat against the very throne of Then God spoke His word, and the waves the Creator. were gathered together into one great mass, the sea, and the earth rose trembling from amidst the waters. But the sea still poured its waves mercilessly into all the deep valleys, between the high mountains and one wave called to another, "Come and let us batter down these lofty peaks.
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