What Jimmy Carter and Yaakov Avinu Knew About Legacy

Parshat Vayechi — Barmitzva of Daniel Gadon

January 10, 2025

Daniel, I have a question for you do you know who Jimmy Carter was?

Jimmy Carter was the 39th President of the United States and he died last week at the ripe old age of 100. It’s a pretty big deal and the various media have been talking about his legacy as a leader of this nation, both during and after his Presidency.

One of Jimmy Carter’s crowing achievements was the Peace Treaty that he brokered between Israel and Egypt in 1979. It was not easy. Talks broke down many times throughout the process and both Menachem Begin and Anwar Sadat were ready to walk away.

Until President Carter did something quite remarkable. Someone on his team managed to find out the names of Menachem Begin’s grandchildren. President Carter signed an individual message to each of the 8 grandchildren and hand delivered it directly to Begin. Overcome with emotion, Begin started to cry and agreed to stay for more negotiations.

Begin, Carter, Sadat at Camp David 1979

Regardless of what you think about Carter’s policies or his stance vis a vis the Jewish people, the 39th President of the United States was able to tap into the unique and special connection that a grandparent has with his or her grandchild.

The same can be said for Yaakov Avinu. For 22 years, Yaakov believed that his son Yosef was dead. Never in his wildest dreams did he imagine that not only would he see his son rise to highest echelons of leadership, but that he would also be able to bless his grandchildren Efrayim and Menashe.

Every Friday night, parents bless their children and for boys we bestow upon them the legacy of these 2 special characters:

ישימך אלקים כאפרים וכמנשה

But why? We don’t know much about them and of all the personalities and figures in our tradition what makes these brothers so unique?

Daniel, I want to share with you 3 reasons:

№1

Although this may be hard to believe, Efrayim and Menashe are the first brothers who do not fight! We are well aware of the sibling rivalry that plagues Sefer Bereshit. The stories of Cain and Hevel, Yitzchak and Yishmael, Yaakov and Eisav, Joseph and his brothers (Yair, Manu and Gilad) all paint a gloomy picture of family dynamics. This trend was broken by Ephraim and Menasheh and set the stage for Aharon, Moshe and Miriam to work together and create a unified nation.

№2

Ephraim and Menasheh, like you Daniel, grew up in a foreign culture, an alluring and attractive one at that. They sat at the feet of power and royalty, surrounded by all the wealth and glory that befitted their father’s position. Yet despite being cut off from the extended family during their formative years; despite the barren wasteland of spirituality; despite the lack of positive, Jewish role models, they remained loyal to the tradition and values of their faith. Ephraim and Menasheh showed us that Judaism can survive and thrive in all environments.

And that brings us to:

№3

Ephraim and Menashe are the first grandchildren of the Bible. They are the first to have a relationship with their grandfather. The bond between Grandparent and grandchild is one of love untroubled by tension or anxiety, untainted by bedtimes and healthy food. As many in this room can tell you Daniel, and as you yourself know, grandparents are the best kind of grownups — a little bit parent, a little bit teacher, and a little bit best friend.

For Yaakov, Efrayim and Menashe were testament to a real miracle. Despite all that Yosef had been through, from the trials and tribulations he’d suffered at the hands of his own brothers, to the false accusations in the house of Potiphar, to his false imprisonment and ultimate redemption and elevation in the court of Pharaoh, he had managed to teach them the traditions and values of his ancestors. Despite the weight of his responsibilities as the Egyptian viceroy, he passed along the masoret and they embraced it.

It is not accomplishment which defined them; it is continuation.

Jimmy Carter understood the power of the next generation. And you, Daniel, are the next link in this unbroken chain of tradition.

There is only one thing left for us to say:

הַמַּלְאָךְ הַגֹּאֵל אֹתִי מִכָּל רָע יְבָרֵךְ אֶת הַנְּעָרִים וְיִקָּרֵא בָהֶם שְׁמִי

The angel that has brought you to this very day;

The angel that has guided your parents Jesse and Sharona — heroic visionaries of the Jewish people;

The angel that has shaped and molded your beautiful family;

The angel that has guided your grandparents towards Eretz Yisrael

May that very angel bless you and protect you. May he set you upon the path of your forebearers and may he accompany you as you begin your journey as a fully fledged member of the Jewish people!

We are so excited for what your future will bring and we can’t wait to hear the words of Torah that you are about to share with us!