George Washington was inaugurated in New York on a opened to Genesis 49. When Jacob blessed his sons. His idea was, just as Jacob had 12 sons, each with his unique attribute, so too, there were 13 states. each with its own unique attributes.
Parashat Vayechi, the final parashah of Book of Genesis, brings us to Yaakov’s final moments. As he prepares to leave this world, he gathers his sons and blesses them—each one individually—describing their character, their destiny, and their unique role in the future of the Jewish people.
What is striking is that although the brothers have endured years of jealousy, rivalry, and near-irreparable division—especially surrounding Yosef—in the end they stand together. Yaakov’s blessings are not about uniformity; they are about unity. Each son is different, each tribe distinct, yet all are indispensable to the whole.
A fascinating historical echo of this idea appears at the very founding of the United States.
In 1789, when George Washington was inaugurated as the first President of the United States—right here in New York City—he faced a unique challenge. The new republic had deliberately rejected the idea of a state religion. Washington wanted to make that principle unmistakably clear from the very first moment of his presidency.
Rather than being sworn in on the Bible of any particular church or denomination, Washington used a Bible from St. John’s Lodge No. 1, a Masonic lodge. In Freemasonry, all faiths are regarded as equal, and members are encouraged to remain faithful to their own religious traditions. By choosing that Bible, Washington ensured that no single religious group could claim symbolic ownership over the new government.
But there is another remarkable detail: Washington reportedly had the Bible opened to this very parashah—the section in which Yaakov blesses his sons.
Why this parashah?
Yaakov had twelve sons. The United States began with thirteen states—but if you count Ephraim and Menashe separately, the symbolism works beautifully. Washington was making a quiet but powerful statement: just as the sons of Yaakov formed one nation made up of distinct tribes, so too the United States would be one nation composed of distinct states.
Each son, Yaakov teaches, has a different mission. Each tribe contributes something essential. No single one can stand alone, and no single one can replace the others. Washington was pointing to the same truth: every state has its own character, strengths, and responsibilities—but only together do they form a complete union.
The message of Parashat Vayechi is therefore timeless. Disagreement is inevitable. Diversity is necessary. But unity is non-negotiable. Whether among Yaakov’s sons or among the states of a republic, the whole depends on every part.
Something very worth thinking about.
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