Connecting the Books

And these are the names of the sons of Israel who came to Egypt with Jacob, each with his household.                                                                 Exodus 1:1

            The initial letter of the Book of Exodus, the second book of the Torah, is the conjunctive “vav.” On the simplest level, Exodus continues the story of the descent of Jacob’s family into Egypt.

            However, it is possible to suggest a more specific connection. One of the last matters dealt with in Genesis is Jacob’s blessing of Joseph’s sons, in which he insisted on giving primacy to the younger son, Ephraim over Joseph’s firstborn son, Menashe. We noted in a previous Dvar Torah that the Book of Genesis is replete with sibling rivalry, beginning with Cain and Abel, continuing with Isaac and Ishmael, Jacob and Esau, and culminating in the conflict between Joseph and his brothers. Menashe’s acceptance of his grandfather’s decision that his younger brother will exceed him represents the end of sibling rivalry.

            In Shemot, we are told that Aaron, Moses’ older brother went out to greet his younger brother, who had been appointed by God as the savior of Israel, “with gladness in his heart.” [Exodus 4:14]

            Thus, Aaron’s acceptance of his younger brother’s ascendency over him is the direct continuation of Ephraim and Menashe, and therefore the second book of the Torah commences with the conjunctive “vav.”