In last week’s Haftara (Yechezkel 37:15-17) we read:
The word of God came to me, saying: “And you, Man, take a branch (etz) and write on it, “For Yehuda and the children of Israel associated with him.’ Then take one branch and write on it, ‘For Yosef- the branch of Efraim- and all of the House of Israel associated with him.’ Bring them together to make one branch, so that they are in your hand… ”
The branch of Yehuda includes Binyamin and the branch of Efraim is made up of the other ten tribes.
Metzudat David points out that the two pieces of wood will fuse miraculously into one. This will indicate that after the ingathering of the exiles, there will be absolute unity of the two parts of Israel. In the Messianic era there will no longer be two kingdoms. There will be a single unified nation under the rule of one Davidic king.
Last week’s parsha, Parshat Vayigash started with Yaakov’s children going down to Egypt while not seeing eye to eye, while in this week’s parsha, Parshat Vayechi, all of the tribes are blessed and are promised that in the future B’nai Yisrael will be reunited in their land.
We are living in the era of the ingathering of the exiles with Jews from all over the world returning to Israel. However, we are at the early stages and we still have a lot to work on when it comes to unity.
Near Elkana in the Shomron, there is a yishuv (settlement) called Etz Efraim, in the tribal territory of Efraim, between Ariel and Rosh HaAyin. It is a mixed Israeli community.
May we be inspired by Etz Efraim and continue to build all inclusive communities throughout Israel where the entire Jewish people can live together peacefully and respectfully.
