Did you know?

B''H

Did you know that Jacob blessed Zevulan before Issachar even though Issachar was older?

The reason to this was:

Issachar and Zevulan were close partners, they had an agreement that Issachar would study Torah day and night in the Yeshiva-Academy, and will not need to work whatsoever. Zevulan on the other hand would engage in Business, travelling all over the seas. Zevulan would then divide all his earnings equally giving 1/2 to Issachar. Since Zevulan would support Issachar it would be as though he was learning, and he would have a part in the merit.

Now, since Zevulan was the one who made it possible for Issachar to do nothing but study, Jacob blessed Zevulan first.

Moses did similarly when he blessed the tribes (Deuteronomy 33:18) "Rejoice Zevulan in your goings out, and Issachar in your Tent."

From here we see that if one supports Yeshiva students or scholars it is as though he himself is learning day and night. Not only does he get merit as though he learns but G-d blesses the supporter first. This is because he makes it possible, and he is the cause of the Yeshiva students learning!

Derived from Me'am Loez, Zohar, Bamidbar Rabba - Nasso (midrash). Talmud, and teachings of Rebbe M. M. Schneersohn.
©Yermi Kurkus