Parashat Vaera- Connecting With Generations Past
The Torah in Parashat Vaera presents a brief genealogical record of the first three tribes of Israel – Reuven, Shimon and Levi. Curiously, the Torah lists here the children of Reuven and Shimon, but with regard to Levi, it gives the names of Levi's children as well as his grandchildren. Why does it list the names of two generations of Levi, but mention only the first generation of Reuven and Shimon?
The Seforno explains that Reuven and Shimon's children were men of stature, worthy of being mentioned by name in the Torah, but their grandchildren, who were one generation further removed from Yaakov, were not of such exalted stature. Levi's grandchildren, however, were indeed of a spiritual stature that rendered them worthy of mention in the Torah. Not only Levi's sons achieved this distinction and prominence, but so did his grandsons, as well.
Why was this the case? Why did Levi's grandchildren rise to a level of piety and distinction equal to their parents' generation, whereas Reuven and Shimon's grandchildren could not achieve such stature?
The Seforno attributes this achievement of Levi's grandchildren to the connection they had with their grandfather. Levi lived longer than any of his brothers, and therefore his grandchildren were able to spend a considerable amount of time with him. The other sons of Yaakov died at a younger age, before they had the opportunity to impact upon and inspire their grandchildren. Levi, however, spent many years with his grandchildren and yielded a very meaningful influence upon them. We can well imagine how inspiring it must have been for Levi's grandchildren to hear of his experiences growing up in Yaakov's home, and his memories of Leah and Rachel. The relationship these children had with Levi enabled them to connect to the "old world," to the world of Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov. Levi served as the bridge between the generation of the patriarchs and the new generation of young men and women growing up in Egypt, and this enabled his grandchildren to achieve a spiritual stature that their second cousins could not attain.
Today, too, it is critically important for the younger generation to feel connected to generations past. There are still a number of people alive who met the Chafetz Chayim Z"L in Europe, or Chacham Ezra Attiya Z"L of Yeshivat Porat Yosef in Israel. There are some Rabbis alive today whose fathers received a blessing from the Ben Ish Chai Z"L. It is important for us and our children to hear the stories of these men and learn of their experiences. Establishing this sense of identification with our righteous ancestors, with the generations of yesteryear, can serve as a critical means of inspiration for us today – just as it served for Levi's grandchildren in Europe.
