Shnayim Yomi - Vayechi - R'vi'i - #4 - Rabbi Jack Savdie - Shimon & Levi: Divergent Paths

Today we're going to talk about the gave to his children. When we think of a we think of a blessing, something positive, something you wish your friend. When we look at the of they aren't in that classic definition of the word rather we find describing the quality the strength of each of his children and they don't seem to be this is actually comment in the zohar and say were sitting at the entrance of lord and say we know that Yakob bless his children. Like it says, but exactly where are the blessings? I want to focus specifically on Yakov's words to Shimon and Levie. Yakov is very upset with the anger that Shimon and Levie displayed both as they killed the inhabitants of the city of Shahim together and they're conspiring against Yusfa Sadik and that is the message Yakov gives to Shimon Levi that he's unhappy with their anger. How is that a blessing? So we have to understand what Jacob's purpose was with these final words with these Yakov is trying to build a nation and each of his children is extremely important and another brick in that building. Each one has something different to offer and each one has a trait that's unique that is going to contribute to Israel. Shimon and Levie had this trait that they were using negatively. And Yakov's goal was to channel that trait and to have them use their passion, their energy, their zealousness positively. And I want to take a minute to follow what happens after with Shimon and Libby. Levie, his descendants stand up at and they act. They act with zealousness and they kill all of those involved in says later. Whoever it was that was involved in they were held accountable. Continue on forward further into the midbar. Penhas is made aware that the prince of Shimon is having relations with the Midi princess. And when Pinhas hears it, he goes in and he's zealous and he kills both of them and he gets a he's rewarded for it. Levie, the tribe of Levie was able to channel that passion and energy. And look at Shimon. Shimon is the one his prince is having relations with the Midionite princess didn't channel it positively but what happens after that is really haval Shimon suppresses his trait suppresses his energy suppresses his passion until the point that he loses his identity and when we come to the of Moshe Shimon doesn't even get a he's only hinted to in the of Yehud. And when they get into Israel and they get a the Shimon is absorbed [snorts] in the Nahala of Yehuda doesn't even have a to claim his own. And that is a great lesson that we can take from to take any trait that we have and to channel it and not shalom lose our identity and who we are.