Jacob, My Mother & the Bread of Life
- Guy Cohen
- Feb 1
- 3 min read
Harvest of Asher
Akko, Israel
The Torah portion from Genesis 47:28-50:26 is called “Vayechi” from the root meaning “life.” Here we read about the end of Jacob’s earthly life.
Genesis 47:28-31 is an account of Jacob’s conversation with Joseph before dying. Jacob asks him to swear he will not leave his remains in Egypt but carry them back to the land of Canaan, so that he may lie with his “fathers in their burying place.” Joseph honored his father’s request and brought Jacob’s body to the family burial cave in Hebron.
Why was it so important for Jacob that he not be forever buried in Egypt but rather in the Promised Land? The reason is that God promised the land to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Jacob’s vision was to be buried in the place where his father, grandfather, mother, grandmother and wife Leah were buried (Genesis 49:29-33).
Two thousand years ago, during the Second Temple period, some Israelites’ bones were brought to Israel from Babylon (Iraq), Iran and throughout the Levant. Even today it is considered a mitzvah (a good deed with great merit) to be buried in Israel.
Genesis 50:10 describes the custom of mourning for seven days. This tradition continues even now in Jewish homes. On the last day of 2024, I completed the seven days of mourning (shiva) for my mother who passed away on the first day of Hanukkah. Hanukkah is a feast of light and joy. My mother's life reflected exactly that. She loved her family, loved to sing and loved to embrace and host family and friends in her home. She was a person who accepted everyone. I find comfort and joy in knowing that after over three months of suffering, she, during that time, came to know her Jewish Messiah and entered into the Light of the world.
Before Jacob's life came to an end, he blessed the twelve tribes. I would like to focus on the blessing of the Tribe of Asher (Genesis 49:20). (As you may remember, our congregation is located in the inheritance of that tribe.) When we translate Jacob’s blessing literally, we see that Asher will have “richness of bread.” During that time, wheat was a form of currency and had value like gold has value. The blessing of richness of bread was to be royal provision. The word Asher in the Hebrew reflects the meaning of happiness (osher) and blessing. I see this as an indication that from its inception, the Tribe of Asher was to be a source of happiness and blessing, both in the physical and spiritual realm (Genesis 30:12-13).
Hundreds of years after Jacob, Moses also blesses the tribe of Asher: "Let Asher be blessed with children; let him be acceptable to his brethren, and let him dip his foot in oil" (Deuteronomy 33:24). I see it as Asher’s anointing. We see here a spirit of reconciliation which dwells in the oil of anointing over this area. Looking at the physical area allotted to the Tribe of Asher today (the Western Galilee), I see the fulfillment of God's promise in the reconciliation among the various people groups and traditions living together in this area. Moreover, there is a greater calling for this area to bring the oil of anointing in Yeshua’s name throughout the region. I see growth and unity, many home groups, houses of worship and people joined together through the light of Yeshua, offering the Bread of Life to hungry Israelis.
