The Rabbi Sacks Legacy Grandparents (Rabbi Sacks on Vayechi, Covenant & Conversation)
Dec 29, 2025
Explore the profound bond between grandparents and grandchildren as Jacob blesses Ephraim and Menashe. Uncover the transformative power of blessings, which shaped parental traditions for generations. Delve into insights from the Zohar on the unique purity of grandparental love. Rabbi Sacks highlights the dual role of grandparents as both teachers and learners from their grandchildren, fostering a reciprocal relationship. Discover how the mention of grandchildren in Psalm 128 links to a vision of peace and hope for society's future.
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Grandparent Blessing Origin
- Jacob, reunited with Joseph, blesses Joseph's sons Ephraim and Menashe as grandchildren he never hoped to see.
- Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks explains this scene as the origin of the Friday-night blessing parents use for their children.
Why That Blessing Endured
- The blessing of Ephraim and Menashe became the model parents use to bless children on Friday nights.
- Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks cites explanations linking it to the first Jewish children born in exile and to the unique purity of grandparental love.
Pure Grandparental Love
- Grandparents bless with a full heart because their relationship lacks the tensions typical between parents and children.
- Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks presents this as the Zohar-based explanation for the special power of grandparental blessing.