Right before Yaakov passed away, he called his children together to give them his blessings. While his children are surrounding him, he tells them the following statement, “Gather together and I will inform you what will transpire at the end of days. Gather Children of Yakov and listen to Yisroel your father”. The following question is raised. Yakovs children have already gathered why is it necessary to tell them gather together once again? Rabbi Hirsch explains the verse as follows.Yaakov wanted to tell his children what they must do in order to be worthy for the end of days. He says “Gather together”this refers to unity.Inorder to survive the exile you need to be unified. However, unity is not enough; you also must “listen to Yisroel your father”.

The end of days refers to the time when we will all realize that G-d is in control of everything .Everything comes from him and is utilized by him for his master plan. It is a time when we will be very close to G-d.Inorder to be worthy of this we need unity. We need to realize that we are all working together to fulfill the plan of G-d .The talents of a person were not giving so that one can realize their own desire. It is given to be utilized together with the talent of everyone else to fulfill G-ds will. Jewish unity is appreciating my role and the role of every Jew in G-ds master plan .It is not enough to just do my job, one is also obligated to help others fulfill there role in the plan .

Yaakov’s second request is to “Listen”. Listening does not just mean to hear. Included in listening is to absorb the idea and make it part of you .Yakov is asking his children to absorb and unify around the ideas that he has taught them. Identifying with Jewish values is not enough one must absorb it .When one learns of a new idea and incorporates it in to there life they are listening .In essence listening is another word for growth. When one is committed to listening to the advice of the Torah and doing what is right they are growing. Through growth one is fulfilling their purpose in G-ds world.

Now we can understand the meaning of the verse. Yakov is telling his children, the end of days will only come through unity and growth. The more one grows personally and the more one helps others fulfill their potential the closer we will come to the end of days.

Rabbi Reuven Garfinkel Young Israel Of Eltingville Staten Island, NY