What is the meaning of a "bracha" -a "blessing"? Let everyone around the table give their opinion.

Now let's see whether anyone's answer fits with the Torah's definition of "blessing" in this week's Parsha. When Yaacov Avinu was about to die he said to his sons: "Gather together and I will tell you what will happen to you in the end of days." Rashi comments that Yaacov was about to reveal to them, through prophecy, when and how Mashiach was going to come, when he lost the Divine prophecy. Instead, he gave his sons the blessings that were to describe their special achievements until the Mashiach comes. Rabbi Zev Leff asks: Does someone come to the major moment in their life and bring two speeches -Plan "A" about Mashiach and Plan "B" about blessings? Surely you only have one major message -and you don't come to the "graduation ceremony" with two major speeches!

Rabbi Leff goes on to ask: And while we are speaking about "blessings," are these really blessings? Yaacov said about his eldest son, Reuven: "Pachaz kamaim -you are like flowing water in your impulsiveness -you cannot be foremost." Is this what you call a blessing? And what about the "blessing" to Shimon and Levi: "Shimon and Levi are brothers -their weapons are stolen tools. Into their conspiracy may my soul not enter." Does't sound too complimentary -does it?!

Rabbi Leff answers that the real meaning of "blessing" is to know your own talents as well as your weaknesses. If Reuven, Shimon and Levi knew their weaknesses, they could work on themselves - and thereby improve themselves -so it is a blessing to know what your weaknesses are! Now, once the tribes knew their strengths and weaknesses, Yaacov said: I do not have to reveal to you when and how Mashiach will come, because that is at the "appointed time" -the last possible moment that Mashiach can come. But Mashiach can come even earlier than this "appointed time" -if we are worthy. If we fix our weaknesses and grow in our character and middos, then Mashiach will come "achishenah" -earlier than the appointed time.

That is why Yaacov switched from Plan A -revealing the coming of Mashiach, to Plan B, giving his sons the blessings of knowing what each had to work on in order to bring Mashiach earlier.

Now let's go around the table and ask what are each of us doing about our own middos to help bring Mashiach. Let us all say one idea or middah that we are going to work on this week, to help bring Mashiach closer. And that will be our way of participating in Yaacov's blessings.