Have you ever wondered

B''H

Have you ever wondered why you say "bless you" to a person that sneezes?

The reason to it is because up to the time of Jacob people would die suddenly and a sneeze was the sign. (They used to
sneeze and die.) Jacob however found this unjust. He prayed to G-d that people should be sick for a few days. This way they would be given a chance to repent from all their lifetimes wrongdoings. It would also give them time to write out their will and say a proper goodbye to their families etc.

We know this from the verses 47:31 and 48:01

47:31 - 'Jacob said "swear to me" Josef swore to him. Israel prostrated himself at the head of the bed.'
Two things can be learned from this:

1. Israel (Jacob) prostrated - he thanked G-d for listening to his prayers and making him the "head" (the first) of all those who would have to take to their "bed" (because of their illness.) (Kesef Nivchar.)


2. It is written in Talmud that the Divine Providence resides at the head of the bed of the sick. Why then would the Divine Providence be there if Jacob wasn't sick?

The next verse answers:

48:01 - After these events someone said to Josef "Your father is ill. Josef took his two sons, Menasseh and Ephraim along with him."

When the Royal house heard that Jacob was sick and was calling his sons to give them his last will, they were surprised. They had never seen this before, for they were used to seeing people die suddenly!

Sources from Ma'am Loez, Yalkut Chadash, Pirkei Rabbi Eliezer:52, Talmud:Bava Basra:16B:Tosefos,and Kesef Nivchar.
©Yermi Kurkus - Have you ever Wondered