In this weeks pasha, Yaakov calls his children together and tries to inform them what will happen at the end of time. The pasukim continue on and relate how in reality, Yaakov gave each one of his children an individualized bracha which we refer to as the birchos Yaakov (49; 1-27). However, upon further examination we can clearly see that the first three in reality did not receive brachos.

By Reuvan we find Yaakov giving him mussar saying that he had so much coming to him but lost it all, as Rashi (49; 4) points out ‘The restlessness and the haste with which you hastened to display your anger, similar to water which hastens on its course. Therefore, you shall no longer receive all these superior positions that were fit for you.’ Reuvan was destined for malchus and kehuna but because of his midah of being too hasty it was taken away.

A question that comes to mind is how is this a bracha? The Torah relates to us how Yaakov goes through each one of his children and ‘blesses’ them. Was Reuven not given a bracha like the others? If Yaakov focused on the negative traits Reuvan possessed, how was that a bracha?

The gemara in Shabbos (55b) states that anyone who can say that Reuvan had indeed sinned, is mistaken. It’s a bit hard to understand this. Did he sin or not?

Perhaps we can explain with a parable. There was a father trying to explain to his child about bacteria. He started off by saying that it is hard to see; it’s dangerous and is commonly found in fruit. He is trying to explain the concept to the child by ‘painting a picture’ of the bacteria, in order for the child to comprehend it. He continues and says you can take a fruit which is delicious, but in essence it is full of bacteria; we must be extremely cautious when dealing with fruit. Shortly thereafter, the child approaches his father holding a fruit and says, ‘father, I think I see bacteria on it.‘ The child proceeds to show the father a black line going across the fruit. The father smiles and responds, ‘if you can see it, it’s not bacteria.’

Reuvan did an aveirah but only Yaakov was able to see it. If anyone says that Reuvan sinned they’re mistaken because his aveirah was only a sin because of his lofty madrega.  But for a regular person to think that they understand it, are mistaken. The reason being, that we have no idea-even on a microscopic level-of how to understand it. Should someone think they can pinpoint it they have no idea what he did.

Yaakov tells Reuvan that you acted in haste and we are therefore stripping you of the kehuna, and malchus as you defiled the kavod of the Shechina. It was a mida k’neged mida. Reuvan did something quickly; he acted with haste. These maalos are all positions of a leader; dealing with people; feeling and needs come into consideration with such a position. Anyone who possesses the midah of acting a bit too hastily, cannot serve properly as a leader A leader has to be extremely meticulous, thought out and clear minded. The way to understand it is that someone who is a leader has to be extremely responsible. Yaakov was saying that since you acted too quickly, this is not for you. Yaakov was in essence giving him the biggest bracha! He was informing Reuvan of his weaknesses and what his strong points were! Someone with a weak heart would not apply for the stressful job as an air traffic control at JFK airport. By rejecting him for the job you are doing him the biggest favor; it’s the biggest bracha he can ask for. Yaakov was saying you’re not cut out for this job. In the pasukim it may look like it wasn’t, but in reality it was the biggest bracha that Reuvan could have asked for.

The Meshech Chochma brings out this point beautifully from last weeks parsha. In last weeks parsha it says (46; 4) ‘and Yosef will place his hand on your eyes.‘  What exactly does that mean? Besides the simple meaning, Hashem is in middle of telling Yaakov to go down to Mitzrayim. Where does this fit in?

Answers Reb Meir Simcha, for twenty two years Yaakov mourned the loss of his son. There was no greater tragedy than this in the world to Yaakov; no greater tragedy for any parent, lo aleinu. But in one instant that all changed. He heard that his son was not only alive–but frum, and the most powerful person in the world who was being mekadesh shem shomayim straight-for twenty two years! What I thought was the worst was in essence the best kiddush Hashem in the world! Hashem davka put that pasuk here to tell Yaakov that you’re going to be going into galus. Be prepared that what may seem not so smooth to you may be the best thing in the world for future generations. We don’t always understand everything.

As much as we think we know what’s good for us and what we should do, it’s not always like that. Sometimes we can lose something we think we deserve. In truth it can be the biggest bracha. We think we deserve this job and we think we’ll succeed in that position, but we don’t know. We have to try our hardest. At the time we might think it’s the biggest blow that one got turned down (i.e for the offer at Bear Sterns, Lehman Brothers, etc.) but realized later that it was the biggest bracha they could have gotten.

Although we may not realize it at the moment, may we all continue to experience tremendous siyata d’shmaya from the Ribono Shel Olam, in all our future endeavors.

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