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 Shira Schechter (Moderator) | f 13, 2021 | Bible Study
More than any other character in the Bible, Jacob encounters angels. In his nighttime vision after fleeing Esau, Jacob sees angels ascending and descending a ladder to heaven. Upon returning, he has a far more direct encounter with an angel, wrestling with the angel...
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...
by Shira Schechter (Moderator) | f 10, 2021 | Bible Study
The meeting between Joseph and Judah was fraught with import for all present, but also impacted the house of Jacob and all the future generations of Israel to come. But Judah is concerned for his father, stating that if they return without Benjamin, Jacob will die....
