Parshat Vayechi: The Divine Relationship – January 10, 2025

Genesis 48:15

וַיְבָ֥רֶךְ אֶת־יוֹסֵ֖ף וַיֹּאמַ֑ר הָֽאֱלֹהִ֡ים אֲשֶׁר֩ הִתְהַלְּכ֨וּ אֲבֹתַ֤י לְפָנָיו֙ אַבְרָהָ֣ם וְיִצְחָ֔ק הָֽאֱלֹהִים֙ הָרֹעֶ֣ה אֹתִ֔י מֵעוֹדִ֖י עַד־הַיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּֽה׃

And he blessed Joseph, saying, “The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has been my shepherd from my birth to this day…”


One of my favorite lines fron any book comes from Catch 22. Regarding the question of permitting the army chaplain in the after hours officer’s club, the author remarks: “It was one thing to maintain liaison with the Lord, and they were all in favor of that. It was something else, though, to have him hanging around twenty-four hours a day.” I believe this is the most common way people relate to God. Rather than a constant liaison with the Lord, interactions with the divine occur on Friday nights, Saturday mornings, on holidays, and life-cycle occasions. This is not bad! However, it’s only a fraction of the relationship we are called on to have with God.

Jacob recalls his fathers who always “walked before God.” They remained aware of, and in relationship with God each step they took. That doesn’t mean they were always perfect.  It means when they made mistakes, they expected God to forgive. When they were welcoming to strangers, they expected God to see their good deeds. When they needed help, they expected God to see their suffering. When they were uncertain of the next steps to take, they turned to God for wisdom.

Our tradition has mechanisms that help us stay in a twenty-four hour relationship with God. There are prayers three times a day, kippah and tzitzit that one wears, blessings before and after the foods we eat, and much more. This constant relationship with God can comfort us in our times of need, and when things are well, helps us maintain gratitude and a check on our ego.  I understand the desire of the officers in Catch 22 to have a break from God. But the Jewish way is to embrace God in all aspects of life, not as an intrusion but as a companion, a guide, and a source of meaning.t that in a moment our lives can change for the better too. Our job is not only to hope, but expect that good will come when we least expect it.e in stature and authority in Egypt and save an entire region from famine. 

Office Hours

B’nai Zion Congregation
6210 Airpark Drive
Chattanooga, TN 37421

Monday: By appointment
Tuesday-Thursday: 10:00am – 4:00pm
Friday: 10:00am – 3:00pm

Contact

Rabbi Samuel Rotenberg: rabbirotenberg@bzcongregation.com

Autumn Clark, Office Manager: office@bzcongregation.com

Phone: 423.894.8900

Subscribe to our email list!

* indicates required

Intuit Mailchimp

Weekly Services

Tuesday Minyan
6:00pm

Friday Kabbalat Shabbat
6:00pm

Shabbat Morning
9:30 am

See our Worship & Events page for all up to date services!