When Yaakov realizes he is about to pass away in Parshat Vayechi, he calls his children to bless them. Each of his children gets a different blessing. The pesukim teach us that not only was it a different blessing but that each blessing pertained to each one of them individually. It says that every man was blessed according to their blessing (אִ֛ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֥ר כְּבִרְכָת֖וֹ בֵּרַ֥ךְ אֹתָֽם). This is such an important message. In our lives we sometimes tend to compare ourselves to one another, whether spiritually, religiously or materialistically.

By comparing ourselves to one another we are saying that we are all the same, but in fact we are not. We all have different purposes and passions in life, and by comparing ourselves we are taking that away. Hashem told our forefathers that not only we will be like the dust of the earth, one nation with one heart, but we will also be like the stars in the sky. We each have an individual light we bring into the world and we should not try to fight that and be the same as the next person. Yaakov understood that message and gave all his children a different blessing. He realized that if he gave the same blessing to all his children it would not work because they are different. So the next time you compare yourself or get jealous of someone else’s blessings, remember yours are supposed to be different, and whatever blessings come your way will be made especially for you. Appreciate what you have because, at the end of the day, we all have so many blessings and each one is specifically designed for us.

By Shira Sedek