Parshas Vayechi: 5786

“Yisrael extended his right hand and rested it on Ephraim’s head….” (Bereishis 48:14)

Yosef had two sons, the first named Menashe, implying a break with a tumultuous past, and the second named Ephraim, referring to Yosef’s great accomplishments.

Dovid Hamelech writes in Tehillim 34:15, “Turn from bad, and do good.” The Chiddushei Harim suggests that the name Menashe symbolizes the concept of turning from evil, and the name Ephraim symbolizes the concept of doing good. (Rabbi Shlomo Caplan, Mishulchan Shlomo)

For curiosity’s sake, I’d like to take a survey of Family First’s readership. Before you “hang up,” it’s only two yes-or-no questions.

Question #1: Do you feel constantly busy doing for others, family included?

Question #2: Are you hard on yourself, always feeling that you should do more and better?

I’m not a survey researcher, but I can venture a guess that most people answered yes to both questions. Why?