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Haven on Earth
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Haven on Earth
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I would like to add to the understanding.
Those days for the children of Yaaqov were ending.
"AND YAAQOV MADE A CALLING FOR CHILDREN BELONGING TO HIM. AND HE SAID, COME GATHER AROUND, AND I WILL MAKE A TELLING FOR YOU, OF THAT WHICH WILL HAPPEN WITH YOURSELVES WHEN AFTERWARD OF THOSE DAYS. DO GATHER TO YOURSELVES AND ATTEND TO YOUR HEARING, AS CHILDREN OF YAAQOV; AND ATTEND TO YOUR HEARING, AS A BELONGING TO YISRAEL, YOUR FATHER. . . ALL THESE ARE TRIBES OF YISRAEL, TWELVE. AND THIS IS WHAT THEIR FATHER SPOKE TO THEM WHEN HE BLESSED THEM. EACH PERSON OF THAT WHICH ACCORDS WITH HIS OWN BLESSING, HE BLESSED THEM." BEREISHIT 49.
Yaaqov wanted to make a telling but began speaking other matters. Each of Yaaqov's children was blessed with a unique blessing and each one received the blessings of each other. So says the tradition according to Rashi's commentary.
"YOSEPH RETURNED TO EGYPT, HE AND HIS BROTHERS, AND ALL THOSE WHO WENT WITH HIM, TO BURY HIS FATHER, AFTER HE HAD BURIED HIS FATHER. YOSEPH'S BROTHERS SAW THAT THEIR FATHER WAS DEAD, AND THEY SAID, PERHAPS YOSEPH STILL BEARS A GRUDGE AGAINST US. HE WILL CERTAINLY REPAY US FOR ALL THE EVIL THAT WE DID HIM. THEY SENT A COMMAND TO YOSEPH SAYING, YOUR FATHER ISSUED A COMMAND BEFORE HIS DEATH SAYING, THIS IS WHAT YOU SHOULD SAY TO YOSEPH: PLEASE FORGIVE THE TRANSGRESSION OF YOUR BROTHERS AND THEIR SIN, FOR THEY DID EVIL TO YOU. AND NOW (THEY SAID,) PLEASE FORGIVE THE TRANSGRESSION OF THE SERVANTS OF THE G~D OF YOUR FATHER. YOSEPH WEPT AS HIS BROTHERS SPOKE TO HIM." BEREISHIT 50.
It seems to me this second gathering is a revelation. Yaaqov wished to reveal its timing as an afterward of those days. Though the suggestion of this second gathering may not have come to their understanding directly through Yaaqov's well explained words the matter of their blessings, the suggestion was real in the making of Yaaqov's telling. In the context of their gathering around and hearing, brought home to them is the heart of Yaaqov's telling. Yaaqov's telling is a deeper understanding of gathering themselves, as children of Yaaqov, and among themselves hearing, understanding, and belonging. This seems to me to be the calling for children belonging to the Heart of Yisrael, He who is Fathering their mutual heart, a gathering of heart, of understanding.
"HIS BROTHERS ALSO WENT AND THREW THEMSELVES DOWN BEFORE HIM, AND THEY SAID, BEHOLD WE ARE YOUR SLAVES. YOSEPH SAID TO THEM, DON'T BE AFRAID, SHALL I THEN TAKE G~D'S PLACE? YOU MIGHT HAVE MEANT TO DO HARM BUT G~D MADE IT COME OUT FOR GOOD. HE MADE IT COME OUT AS IT ACTUALLY DID, WHERE THE LIFE OF A GREAT NATION HAS BEEN PRESERVED. NOW DON'T WORRY. I WILL FULLY PROVIDE FOR YOU AND YOUR CHILDREN. HE THUS COMFORTED THEM AND SPOKE TO THEIR HEART." BEREISHIT 50.
Concerning unique blessings, Yaaqov tells of each. Concerning sharing blessings, Yaaqov can but bless. It is to the Father of those unique blessings and to the Heart of our mutual understanding, our sharing, that we allow ourselves to become servants. And in this gathering, our hearing, we ask forgiveness. Come, lets gather heart. Tell me we have been as dreamers.
'In semicircles for opening, our visions - semiconscious.'