When the B'nei Ya'akov are standing around Ya'akov's bed and the Sechina leaves him he is afraid that one of his children is unfit, and they reassure him by saying "Shema Yisrael" - my question is how could they say their father's name right there in front of him?
Chag Kasher v'sameach
Marc Chipkin, Johannesburg, South Africa
The Targum Yerushalmi here and the Targum Yonasan in Va'eschanan both present the same Chazal, but add the word 'Avunan' (our father) after 'Yisrael', which would be permitted. The Maharsham (I saw quoted) explains that this is what they must have said, precisely for the reason that prompted your question.
Presumably, the Pasuk in Va'eschanan omits 'Avunan', because there, it refers to K'lal Yisrael, and not to Ya'akov Avinu. And I suppose that the Medrash omits it in order not to deviate from the wording of the Pasuk.
Wishing you and yours a Chag Kasher ve'Samei'ach.
Eliezer Chrysler.