I know I’m not the only one who thinks that the original Power Rangers was awesome.
No, I’m not talking about this Turbo-Mega-Ultra-Version-Five-Point-O-Cybernetic-Power-Ranger stuff they spit out today. I’m talking Old School. I’m talking pre-Green Power Ranger with his dorky pony tail and his bad-boy looks. I’m talking Pink Power Ranger isn’t even on the show Felicity yet. That was good times. So I was happy that this week’s parshat reminded me of Power Rangers.
Jacob gathers his sons around and blesses them each with a role. This is the characteristic that their tribe will carry on, and combined together, will create a great nation. Joseph had beauty, Naphtali had swiftness, Asher was the next Food Network star and Judah would be the lion.
To me, Jacob isn’t saying, “OK, I’m old as dirt so let’s figure out something for you losers to be good at before I die.” Instead he’s saying, “I’m your dad, so I know what you are good and not good at. Here’s what I think is a good direction for you guys to go in.” Don’t believe me? Rashi says that Joseph as a teenager would “adorn his eyes”. Is that not beauty? Jacob didn’t bless Joseph with beauty. Rather, he told Joseph (like his brothers) where their talents lay and the blessing strengthened that skill set.
The Power Rangers were the same way. In the first episode when the Power Rangers are given their powers, the brainy kid (Billy) was given Wisdom, the Red Power Ranger, the Jock, was given Strength. The Pink Power Ranger…well…I don’t know what they gave her. Good fashion sense?
Regardless, the nerdy Power Ranger was already smart and the football player was already strong. But their Power Ranger Powers weren’t something new for them: it took what they already had going for them, to the next level.
The moral of the story? Be what you are. And let the blessings strengthen what you are already good at so that you can save the universe from evil, or at least create a dynasty in the Middle East.
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