by Rabbi Pesach Wolicki | f 5, 2023 | Bible Study, Israel, Vayechi
“And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years. So the length of Jacob’s life was one hundred and forty-seven years. When Israel’s days drew close to death, he called his son Joseph and said to him, “Now if I have found favor in your sight, please put...
by Shira Schechter (Moderator) | f 2, 2023 | Parenting, Shabbat, Vayechi
By Adam Eliyahu Berkowitz Without a doubt, the sweetest part of the Sabbath is blessing my children. My children are older and no longer live at home. But when we do gather together at the end of a busy week, placing my hands on their bowed heads, invoking God’s...
by Shira Schechter (Moderator) | f 16, 2021 | Vayechi
Before he leaves the world, Jacob blesses his sons (Genesis 49). Similarly, Moses also blesses the tribes before he dies (Deuteronomy 33). But the two sets of blessings are very different. Not all of Jacob’s blessings are positive. It is perhaps for this reason that...
by Shira Schechter (Moderator) | f 15, 2021 | Mourning, Vayechi
After Jacob died, Joseph ordered his physicians to embalm his father. This is shocking to many as embalming is forbidden by Jewish law, and the only other mention of embalming in the Bible was performed on Joseph just a few years later (Genesis 50:26). Though Jacob’s...
by Shira Schechter (Moderator) | f 15, 2021 | Israel, Vayechi
When Jacob passes away, Joseph requests permission from Pharaoh to travel to Israel to carry out his oath to his father to bury him in Hebron. All of the dignitaries from Egypt join Joseph and his brothers as they travel to Israel, though the children and flocks...
by Eliyahu Berkowitz | f 12, 2021 | Parenting, Vayechi
The Torah portion of Vayechi (Genesis 47:28–50:26) tells of the end of Jacob’s life. He lives the last 17 years of his life in Egypt. When he is about to leave the world, Joseph brings his two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, to his father to be blessed. As part of the...
