The Blessing of Ephraim and Manasseh

Beraishit 48.20- בראשית

20.’And he blessed them that day, saying, ‘By you shall Israel bless, saying, “May G-d make you like Ephraim and as Manasseh.” And he set Ephraim before Manasseh-וַיְבָרְכֵם בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא לֵאמוֹר בְּךָ יְבָרֵךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל לֵאמֹר יְשִׂמְךָ אֱלֹהִים כְּאֶפְרַיִם וְכִמְנַשֶּׁה וַיָּשֶׂם אֶת אֶפְרַיִם לִפְנֵי מְנַשֶּׁה (9377=26=8 counting final Mems and Kafs as 600 and 500).

The verse can be divided so:

·         And he blessed them that day, saying- וַיְבָרְכֵם בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא לֵאמוֹר(1750+4 words=17=8 counting final Mem as 600);

·         By you shall Israel bless, saying- בְּךָ יְבָרֵךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל לֵאמֹר(1066+ 4 words=1070=8 or 2026=10=1 counting final Kaf as 500);

·         May G-d make you- יְשִׂמְךָ אֱלֹהִים(456+2 words=17=8);

·         Like Ephraim and as Manasseh- כְּאֶפְרַיִם וְכִמְנַשֶּׁה(772+2 words=18);

·         And he placed Ephraim- וַיָּשֶׂם אֶת אֶפְרַיִם(1088=17=8);

·         Before Manasseh- לִפְנֵי מְנַשֶּׁה (565+2 words=18).

Rashi comments here that a father who comes to bless his sons says these words “May G-d make you like Ephraim and as Manasseh”- יְשִׂמְךָ אֱלֹהִים כְּאֶפְרַיִם וְכִמְנַשֶּׁה before the actual blessing.

The Blessing of the Children

ברכת הבנים

729=18

The Blessings of Sons and Daughters

Every Shabbat-Eve a father blesses his children at the Shabbat Table. The Blessing is also recited on the Eve of Yom Kippur. The Blessing is comprised of the words in this verse and the words of Priests’ Blessing in Parshat Naso (B’Midbar 6.26) see my Commentary there as to the unique gematriot and format of the Priestly Blessing,

The Blessing of a father to his children is a blessing from the Eighth Sphira: 

To Sons

·         May G-d make you- יְשִׂמְךָ אֱלֹהִים(456+2 words=17=8);

·         Like Ephraim and as Manasseh- כְּאֶפְרַיִם וְכִמְנַשֶּׁה(772+2 words=18);

·         May Hashem bless you and keep you; May Hashem cause His face to shine upon you and give you grace; May Hashem lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace- יְבָרֶכְךָ יְהוָה וְיִשְׁמְרֶךָ; יָאֵר יְהוָה פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ וִיחֻנֶּךָּ; יִשָּׂא יְהוָה פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ וְיָשֵׂם לְךָ שָׁלוֹם (2718=18).

To Daughters

·         May G-d make you like Sarah, Rivkah, Rachel and Leah- יְשִׂמְך אֱלֹהִיםכשרה, רבקה, רחל ולאה (1568+6 words=1574=17=8);

·         May Hashem bless you and keep you; May Hashem cause His face to shine upon you and give you grace; May Hashem lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace- יְבָרֶכְך יְהוָה וְיִשְׁמְרֶך; יָאֵר יְהוָה פָּנָיו אֵלֶיך וִיחֻנֶּך; יִשָּׂא יְהוָה פָּנָיו אֵלֶיך וְיָשֵׂם לְך שָׁלוֹם (2718=18).