Yaakov’s berachot to his sons usually highlight each shevet’s unique personality. But when he reaches Shimon and Levi, something strange happens. He gives them a joint blessing, and it barely sounds like a blessing at all. Why would Yaakov group these two brothers together? And why does he describe their anger as something foreign to Klal Yisrael? Even more puzzling, why does Moshe later give Levi one of the most beautiful blessings in the Torah while giving Shimon none at all?

In this episode I explore the deeper story behind these two shevatim. Rashi points out that Shimon and Levi acted together at Shechem and in the plot against Yosef. They shared a single personality as a pair, not simply as individuals. Through the stories of Zimri, Korach, and the selling of Yosef, Rashi paints a picture of a dangerous partnership built on planned anger and group identity. But if that is true, how did Levi become the shevet of kohanim while Shimon faded into near silence? And what does the Rambam mean when he says Yaakov appointed Levi as the rosh yeshiva long before his death?

By tracing the clues through Bereishit, Shemot, Bamidbar, Devarim, Midrash, and Rambam, I show how Shimon and Levi’s destinies diverged once they were separated. Levi learned how to channel the same fiery energy toward avodat Hashem, while Shimon never transformed his middah. Yaakov’s blessing, Moshe’s blessing, and all the stories in between fit together as one long narrative of potential, danger, teshuvah, and leadership.

World of Medrash uncovers the hidden structure behind Rashi and the Midrash and reveals the deeper stories shaping the Chumash.

A continuation of the prior shiur

10 shiurs in 1. Actually, in 2.