“And he blessed them on that day saying, ‘Within you Israel will bless…’” (Bereishis 48:20)

 Many wonder how Efraim and Menashe merited being singled out from all the rest of the Shevatim as an example for all generations of children of Yisrael.

Of all the Shevatim, only Menashe and Efraim were born and raised in Mitzrayim, a country steeped in impurity. Officers and magicians were constant visitors in their home. There they were raised, in a strange land, far from the holiness of Eretz Yisrael and their forefathers.

In contrast, the other ten Shevatim were born and raised in the house of Yaakov. His noble spirit influenced them, and when they went to Eretz Yisrael from Charan, they merited being under the influence of Yitzchak.

Nonetheless, when Yaakov came to Mitzrayim, he saw that Efraim and Menashe weren’t drawn after the impurities of Mitzrayim. They hadn’t learned from their ways and etiquette. On the contrary. Yaakov saw that they had been educated at the knees of Yosef the Tzaddik, in the way of Torah, until they were worthy of being counted among the 12 holy Shevatim. (Rav Shmuel Hominer, Eved Hamelech)

“S

o, where are you from?” We were stretched out on the wooden floor of the bunkhouse, getting acquainted by the light of a flashlight.

“California.”

“New York.”

“Nevada.”

We all turned to look at Avigail in wonder. She looked the same as the rest of us — thick sweatshirt, curly ponytail.

“Vegas?” asked one know-it-all.

“Nope,” she shrugged. “There are more cities in the Southwest than Vegas.”

“But where do you go to school?”

“Public school.” Now she had all our attention.

“Is your family frum?” This blondie was blunt.

“Of course. My father is the rav of our city’s shul. There just aren’t enough shomer Shabbos families to open a day school.”

“So where are you going to high school?” This conversation was bread and butter to us as we approached eighth grade.

“I’m going to have to board. My older sisters and brothers also do that.”

The conversation shifted, but I found myself regarding Avigail with awe. While my parents’ generation may have had to make do with public school, I didn’t know anyone else forced to make such a decision. And to leave home for high school?

Throughout that summer of canoe rides and overnights, Avigail and I became close friends. I was constantly amazed how different her home life was from my good ol’ East Coast, yet how similar our convictions were.

The path to such an elevated level was certainly not a bed of roses. There’s no doubt that Menashe and Efraim encountered many nisyonos as they followed the way of Torah and mitzvos. Nonetheless, they persevered over all the obstacles and continued in the holy footsteps of their forefathers, as their righteous father showed them.

Summer ended, but Avigail and I kept in touch. She was accepted to a Bais Yaakov in the Midwest while I continued on my merry way through the same school I’d attended since nursery. We shared several more summers together and then came seminary. For me, this would be my first foray away from home. For Avigail, homesickness was already part of her life.

Although we went to different seminaries, we got together several times for Shabbos. I loved seeing people’s reactions when they learned her hometown.

“There are shomer Shabbos Jews there?”

“My family!” Avigail would announce proudly.

I drew strength from her conviction that the nurture of her home could overcome the nature of her surroundings.

The intention here is to direct every person to bless his children and students that they walk in the way of the holy Torah and not act at all like those around them whose lives are steeped in impurity.

Hashem should grant each of us Divine Assistance to merit our children striving to reach the exalted levels of Efraim and Menashe.

Our lives have continued along the parallel paths we began. Avigail lives in Anywhere, USA, where her husband is rav, and I live in a suburb of Yerushalayim.

Recently, Avigail came to visit her daughter in seminary. As we caught up, I was once again struck how different our home lives are, yet how similar our goals. We parted closer than ever.

Two roads diverged in a Catskill wood…

I wonder if she realizes how much I admire her.

(Originally featured in Family First, Issue 573)