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Beit Midrash
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"G-d will be with you and will bring you back to the land of your fathers. And I am giving you one "Shechem" more than your brothers, which I took from the Emorite with my sword and bow."
"Shechem" literally means "shoulder." Rashi comments that the word also can mean "portion;" i.e. Yosef is getting an extra portion of the land of Israel via his 2 sons, who will receive an equal allotment when the land is divided. This "double portion" indicates that Yakov considers Yosef a legitimate first-born, and so is entitled to a double share.
But Rashi seems to favor the literal translation of Shechem, namely that it refers to the city itself, which was set upon by the brothers when they rescued their sister Dina, who had been kidnapped and raped by the prince there. Yakov joined in this battle with his "sword and bow." Indeed, Yosef is always associated after this with Shechem, and he is buried there in Kever Yosef.
Of course, Shechem is not only linked to the Dina saga. One of the oldest cities in history - it dates back more than 4000 years - it has a unique Jewish provenance. It is the first place that G-d appears to Abraham, promising him that the Land of Israel would be given to his descendants in perpetuity. Following the Exodus, Joshua assembled the Israelites in Shechem and encouraged them to reaffirm their adherence to the Torah; the city would later become the first capital of the kingdom of Israel, although it was in Shechem that the kingdom was divided in the days of Rechavam. It also served as one of the Cities of Refuge mentioned in the Torah, a place that housed involuntary man-slaughterers fleeing from the avenging next-of-kin.
But I suggest that the key to Yakov's act is that Shechem was also the scene of that horrendous crime of disunity, the place where the brothers threw Yosef into a pit, and later sold him into slavery, setting into motion the eventual descent into Egypt and subsequent redemption. Yakov, in a sense, is "returning to the scene of the crime." Troubled to the core for years by what he suspected had happened to Yosef - and somewhat blaming himself for having sent Yosef to his jealous brothers in Shechem - it is only appropriate that Yosef inherit this particular city as recompense of sorts for what was done to him there. It is also a subtle message to the Shvatim, that they who once united so valiantly when coming to the aid of their sister, must now acquiesce to this gift to their brother as a form of atonement for their sin of disunity; appropriately, they show no objection whatsoever to Yosef having been granted this extra piece of land in addition to his regular share.
At long last, before he leaves this world, Yakov can finally - at least somewhat - unburden himself of the guilt he has painfully "shouldered" all these many years.
Rabbis in Midrash
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Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 9 - "Seeing is Believing" (parag. 21-30)
These paragraphs elaborate on the theme that seeing and knowing is better than any attempt to prove logically, and begins explaining the difference between Israel and gentiles.
Ein Aya Various Universal Stages of the Geula Process
Rav Kook examines the various stages of redemption, explaining how (in addition to the obvious oft-mentioned stages of ingathering the exiles, reviving the Hebrew language, army, state etc.) the messianic dream of world prosperity, the State of Israel and world unity can and are realistically and logically gradually coming true.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
How do we know that the "claim" of mass revelation to 2,000,000 witnesses at Mt. Sinai is really true? This important class answers all of the questions skeptics ask about this claim of the Kuzari.
Ein Aya Armies Still Necessary for Balance & the War Against Wars
Rav Kook explains why the world was originally divided into the various seemingly contradicting ideologies and cultures, in order to develop each one respectively. Swords or armies symbolize how each respective ideology defends themselves, as well as deters their opposing ideologies and cultures. On the other hand, the messianic era will be one of peace, and Rav Kook explains the transition to that stage, which mankind is already undergoing.
The Land of Israel LGBT'S IN ISRAEL
The question was asked, how can one make Aliyah with the LGBT parades?
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 7 - Five Accumulative Proofs of G-d
As a preparation for the Kuzari's classic proof of G-d from the mass-revelation at Sinai, we start here with 5 other directions to strengthen our belief which also contribute to what the Kuzari will present as well.
Ein Aya Muscle & Meaning: The Dual Nature of Gevurah (Physical Strength)
Is physical strength and fitness a necessity or an ideal? Although it if often totally overlooked among topics of Judaism, Rav Kook writes that it clearly is also a necessity to deter the many enemies of Israel, but even in Y'mot HaMashiach, in the Messianic era, to a certain extent, it's ideal continues even after our enemies will have been finished off.
