2. Genesis: Va Yiggash & Va Yehi
I just learned that christ means messiah. Interesting. Always thought it was just a name.
So I know it’s time to write on the first chapter of Exodus, but I still have a piece of Genesis stuck in my head. The death thing.
Before Jacob dies, he has all of his children brought to him and he speaks to each one. Actually only his sons come before him. I wonder what happened to Dinah? I guess maybe she left her family when she married. In those days it wasn’t like you could come home for the weekend because dear old dad was dying. No phones or trains.
Jacob isn’t entirely kind when he speaks to his sons, and it would take more of a Torah scholar than me to decipher half of what he’s talking about. But what I do get is that he spoke to each son before he died. There is huge blessing in that. How amazing to have that one final conversation with someone. Knowing that in fact this is the final conversation.
Three of my closest family members have died. I did not get to have a conversation with any of them before they died. It would have been wonderful. One of my dearest friends died a few years ago. I didn’t get to speak to him before he died either as his death was sudden. He was a bit of a hobo though. He never really lived anywhere so always kept a phone number with voicemail. It took the phone company several months to figure out that no one was ever going to pay the bill before they finally turned it off. So I spoke to Alex quite regularly on the phone after he died. Often I yelled at him, as there was really no reason for him to die other than absolute degraded neglect of his own well being. It was wonderful to be able to hear his voice and pretend for a moment that we really could have that final conversation.
Maybe the lesson is that we should treat every moment like it could be the last. Not in a pessimistic end of the world kind of way. In a be good to yourself and the people around you kind of way. That’s what they say at the end of my yoga class.
Shalom Aleichem Leslie, intresting!
the Holy Tongue (Lashon HaKodesh) is the mouthpiece and tongue through which are revealed the secrets of the Holy Torah.
to know Hebrew will open a new window of understanding. Study it.
RaCh’Yem
I’m working on it! Thanks for your response. In what language does “christ” mean messiah? My catholic friends don’t know. I just learned that it wasn’t a name from “Rashi’s Daughters”….a great trilogy. I wish Rashi had more daughters so I could read more!
Christ is the English term for the Greek Χριστός (Christós) meaning “the anointed one”. It is a translation of the Hebrew מָשׁיחַ (Mashiach), usually transliterated into English as Messiah.
You will find it numerous time throughout the Tanach. such as Cohenim (Priests) were “anointed” to do their jobs.
another one would be, the King – מלך. “anointed” ruler of Israel. and next will be the Nevi’im (Hebrew: נְבִיאִים, for “Prophets”) as they were “anointed” by G-d.
“Rashi’s duaghters” It was a great book (trilogy).
RaCh’Yem