How We Bless

The way Jacob blesses his grandkids in this week’s portion of Torah tells us all we need to know about something important: how positive change can happen. 

The grandchildren’s names signify negative and positive influences. Joseph names Menasha for all the negative things and bad people he had to overcome. By contrast, Ephraim is named for the opportunities and positive potential that the future holds in store (Gen. 41:51-52). Why then does Jacob bless them in reverse order, placing the positive ahead of the negative (