Before Jacob's passing he designated that Joseph's two sons, Ephraim and Menashe, will be counted just like his own sons, and each be leaders of their own tribes. "Your two sons who were born to you in Egypt, before I came to you - will be mine. Ephraim and Menash will be to me just like Reuben and Shimon."
Why did they deserve this great honor, and why does Jacob mention when and where they were born?
It was precisely the fact that they were born and raised in Egypt, in an alien culture, yet raised to be true to their heritage, that impressed Jacob so much. It was one thing to be "a good Jew" when living in Jacob's household in the land of Canaan, but quite another to be raised and to live as a model Jew in the pagan and morally challenging culture of Egypt. This is what was so remarkable about Joseph and his sons.
The welcoming and non-judgmental western culture we live in today is a wonderful blessing; our challenge, however, is to be sure to utilize that opportunity to live true to our heritage and to be a shining example of what it means to be a Jew – indeed, precisely in a world of unbridled freedom and opportunity.