Growing Out of Confinement

In Egypt, Joseph named his firstborn son, Menashe – “G-d has made me forget...” Although Joseph’s struggles were now little more than distant memories, Menashe’s name served as a reminder of a difficult past. On the other hand, his second son, Ephraim – “G-d has made me fruitful...” – indicates a fresh outlook entirely focused on the positive potential to be found in his circumstance.

One can view exile as a series of difficulties, each of which deserves attention, to be struggled with, one by one. The proper attitude, however, is: “Be fruitful” – pay no heed to obstacles or limitations; You stand above them and keep focused on actualizing your goals. This positive approach evokes G-d’s blessing to each and every Jew, that his “fruitfulness” be “too many to count;” that our success will be multiplied by G-d’s infinite blessings, beyond all calculation.