The Blessing and Peril of Invincibility

An exploration of the connection between Yaakov Avinu’s berachah to Binyamin in Parshas Vayechi and the near annihilation of Shevet Binyamin in Sefer Shoftim—and its powerful lessons for Klal Yisroel.

The berachos that Yaakov gave to his children, in a way, summed up their very essence. Each blessing allowed the corresponding Shevet to discover its individuality, to know and embrace its distinct mission. However, as revelatory as the blessings may be, they are also cryptic and difficult to understand. They are rich in metaphors, symbolizing each of t…