CANTOR’S CORNER

Cantor Eyal Bitton shares a few thoughts on prayer and the parasha of the week.

2023-12-30 Parashat Vayechi

I remember talking to an old friend at the Montreal Spanish & Portuguese Synagogue. We had sung in the synagogue choir together as boys and teenagers. I was now a Conservative cantor and he was a Chabad Lubavitcher. He spoke about how the Conservative movement was decreasing in size while the Reform and Orthodox movements were growing. Instead of there being a negative judgment about that, he underscored his desire for the Conservative movement to grow. He said, “We need you. We’re a rainbow.” How beautiful!

Parashat Vayechi, the final portion in the book of Genesis, recounts the closing chapters of Jacob’s life and the blessings he imparts upon his twelve sons. We encounter a poignant theme in this story—the diversity among Jacob’s sons, who come to represent the twelve tribes of Israel. Despite their differences, the bonds of brotherhood unite them, echoing a powerful message for the Jewish people.

Much like the sons of Jacob, Jews around the world embody diverse cultural backgrounds, traditions, and perspectives. Parashat Vayechi reminds us that our strength lies in our unity despite these distinctions. The legacy of brotherhood amongst the tribes resonates in the contemporary Jewish identity, emphasizing the shared heritage that transcends geographical and cultural boundaries.

The deep connection to the land of Israel serves as a unifying force. Just as Jacob’s sons looked towards their ancestral homeland, Jews today share a profound attachment to Israel—a spiritual home woven into the fabric of our collective identity. The Land of Israel, mentioned in the parasha, becomes a symbolic thread linking Jews worldwide.

In the Friday evening Shabbat service, the Amidah prayer includes a plea for the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the restoration of the Davidic dynasty. This prayer underscores the timeless connection to Israel, emphasizing the centrality of the land to Jewish spirituality and identity. The echoes of Parashat Vayechi resound in this prayer, reminding us of our shared past and the aspirations for a united future in the cherished land of our ancestors. As we recite these words, we are not only praying for a physical place but invoking the unbreakable bond that unites us as brothers and sisters, descendants of Jacob’s diverse yet harmonious legacy.

The Jewish people are a rainbow. We are not just one thing. We need each “color” to shine at its fullest so that the entire rainbow can shine brightly, as a beacon to ourselves, the world, and as an eternal symbol between us and the Divine.