Rabbi Carlebach taught his listeners how to give blessings - and said that is the only thing that "works" in this world.

 

So this week we read the Portion of the week of Jacob giving Blessings for all his family and for eternity (all time) and for ALL THE WORLD -

SOOO let me start

 

by blessing all my family and friends and students and congregants,

all the people of Israel and of all the world - to be healthy and happy and to ADD TO THE GOODNESS OF THE WORLD.

 

But are Blessings just a bunch of words - or hard work - or patience - or sometimes a struggle?

 

As a connection to Jabob's Blessings :This week we can learn so much about the Almighty and the Torah by hearing stories from the Yahrzeit's (this week)  of great Hassidic Masters of the past , like

 

Rabbi Natan of Breslav, who wrote down the notes and published the work and teachings of Rebbe Nachman ( and you can see some of these as explained by Rabbi Yaskil, peppered throughout my book

"Seeking Reb Shlomo"). 

 

He wrote in the introduction to the Second printing of Likutay Mohara"N (Rebbe Nachman's Magnum Opus):

"The first printing had errors - even blank spaces which confuse the reader - and some of the typeset is corrupted- so I had to make the corrections ..."

 

What's the big deal? He was the editor, so of course he would make the corrections!? But at the time, 

 

He was writing his own works, 

yet he felt obligated NOT to give Rebbe Nachman's book to someone else to correct - but to guarantee it himself.

 

In this Portion, Jacob, Joseph, and the children - all accept the tasks -

Of making the Israelite Nation a spiritual light to the world FOREVER.

 

Joseph - who ran the country of Egypt, he had time? And

 

The other brothers who worked together to protect and build "ISRAEL" -

 

they were all "busy" - but they worked together to fulfill the

challenge of the task and blessing of Israel/Jacob.

 

And it was  also the Yahrzeit of Mordechai Yosef of Ishbitz (Ishbitzer)

 

And here's a litle anecdote about him: