Overview of the Weekly
Reading: Vayechi
To be read on 14 Tevet
5766 (Jan.14)
Torah: Genesis 47:28-50:26; Haftorah:
Kings I 2:1-12 (David's deathbed words)
Vayechi is the 12th Reading out of 12 in Genesis and
12th overall, and 44th out of 54 in overall length.
Yaacov realized that
he would soon pass away, so he asked Yosef to swear that he would bury
him with Yitzchak and Avraham in Machpeleh Cave in Hevron. Yaacov blessed
Yosef's sons, Efraim and Menashe, and told Yosef that the city of Shechem
would be his eternal inheritance. Yaacov prophetically blessed each
of his 12 sons. After Yaacov passed away and the mourning period was
over, Yosef got Pharaoh's permission to leave Egypt to bury his father
in Israel. An entourage of Yaacov's family and Pharaoh's courtiers went
to Israel with Yaacov's coffin. After returning to Egypt, the brothers
worried that Yosef might still hold a grudge against then for having
sold him. Yosef assured them that what occurred was Divine Providence
and for the best, and promised to fully sustain them and their families.
Yosef lived long and saw his great grandchildren. He made his offspring
swear to take his remains out of Egypt when they would eventually return
to Israel. "Chazak, Chazak, Venitchazek!"
FROM THE MASTERS OF
KABBALA (K:1266/Vayechi)
From the holy
Zohar, teachings of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai
(Z:1266/Vayechi)
When Jacob wished
to bless Joseph's sons, he blessed them with the unification of above
and below [bina and malchut] as one so that the blessings would be fulfilled.
For the full article, click to the "Weekly Torah" section on
our KabbalaOnline
site.
* * * * *
From the holy Ari,
Rabbi Yitzchak Luria of Safed (A:1266/Vayechi)
It is known
that the twelve signs of the Zodiac subdivide into [four categories corresponding
to] the four elements, three [signs] associated with each element.
For the full article, click to the "Weekly Torah" section on
our KabbalaOnline
site.
* * * * *
From Rabbi Chaim (ben
Moshe) Ibn Atar (O:1266/Vayechi)
We need to examine
the criteria that cause the Torah to refer to Jacob sometimes as "Jacob"
and other times as "Israel".
For the full article, click to the "Weekly Torah" section on
our KabbalaOnline
site.
FROM THE CHASSIDIC
REBBES (V:1266/Vayechi)
They had left the city, had not gone far out of the city, and Joseph
said to his house steward, "Get up, chase after the men."
(44:4)
The Torah emphasizes the fact that they had not gone far. When a person
travels to another city, he is supposed to recite tefilat haderech,
the traveler's prayer, in order to protect himself from unpleasant occurrences.
It is to be recited when one is already outside of the city. Joseph
sent his servant out after them before they had a chance to recite the
prayer and gain protection from it.
(Rabbi Avraham Mordechai of Gur)
A
MYSTICAL CHASSIDIC DISCOURSE
from the Chabad
Master series, produced by Rabbi Yosef Marcus for
www.ascentofsafed.com and www.kabbalaonline.org
MOSHIACH THIS WEEK
(M:1266/Vayechi)
"Until Shiloh comes." (49:10)
Rashi comments that the above words refer to Moshiach. In addition, the
Baal HaTurim points out that the Hebrew words meaning "Shiloh comes"
have the same numerical value as the word "Moshiach" - 358.
(The word "shiloh" itself has the numerical value of 345, the
same as Moshe.) The word "comes" (yavo) contains a profound
allusion to the means by which Moshiach can be brought. For yavo is numerically
equivalent to 13, which is also the the numerical value of the word echad--one.
When there will be unity among Jews, and in particular, when Jews will
unite in speaking about Moshiach, they will succeed in drawing down and
realizing the ultimate Redemption through the Righteous Moshiach.
The Rebbe HaRayatz
[Reprinted with permission from L'Chaim Magazine.]
An
essay from Rabbi Shaul Yosef Leiter, director of Ascent
(for a free weekly email subscription, click
here) (W:1266/Vayechi)
This Shabbat we read Parshat Vayechi, which concludes the first
book of the Torah, Bereishit (Genesis). After reading the final verse
of the book, the entire congregation joins together and says, 'Chazak,
chazak v'nitchazek'-'Be strong, be strong and we will be strengthened'-that
by progressing in Torah study, we are strengthened in all aspects of our
Jewish lives, both physically and spiritually. There is an advantage to
completing Bereishit over the other five books, because it is also the
finale of the specific Torah portion, Vayechi. The Medrash explains that
the opening words of the portion, "Yaacov lived in Egypt 17 years"
tell us that in Egypt Yaacov really lived a good and happy life (hinted
in the word 'seventeen'-which is the numerical value of the word 'tov'-good).
In Egypt, Yaacov was able to complete and repair his earlier years as
though all were happy. Every single Jewish person is a child of Yaacov,
therefore, each of us can tap into the dimension of Yaacov and Vayechi-to
really live. Each of us is shielded from the bad and is able to live the
good and positive life. Start now and it will continue throughout the
year.
Later in the portion, we find something very interesting and seemingly
peculiar about Yaacov's blessings to his sons-he compares them to animals!
Yehuda is a lion cub. Benyamin is an attacking wolf. Naftali is a running
hart. Why didn't Yaacov simply bless them with courage and agility? The
answer is that there must be some connection between animals and the tribes
themselves.
To answer, the Lubavitcher Rebbe cites the Talmud (end of Kiddushin)
where Rabbi Shimon ben Elazar discusses the difference between animals
and people. 'In all my life', says Rabbi Shimon, 'I have never seen a
deer who dried figs, a lion who was a porter, or a fox running a store.
Yet they sustain themselves without hardship. And why were they created?
To serve me. And why was I created? To serve my Creator. If so [that I
have a higher purpose], then shouldn't I also be able to sustain myself
without hardship? But, [unfortunately] I corrupted my ways and [therefore]
forfeited my sustenance.'
The purpose of creation is to make a dwelling place for G-d in this world,
where G-dliness is most hidden. This is accomplished by our studying Torah
and doing G-d's commandments. However difficult it is to see, everything
in the creation exists just to assist us to fulfill our personal mission.
This is what Rabbi Shimon ben Elazar meant in his statement about animals.
Their purpose is only to serve people to fulfill our purpose. The inference
here is that animals are an initial stage or preparation to the fulfillment
of the Jewish people's purpose.
Now, back to the tribes in Egypt. The entire Egyptian exile was to prepare
the Jewish people and the world for the giving of the Torah that followed
the exodus. Though Yaacov and his sons all descended to Egypt, the real
servitude did not begin until Yaacov and Yosef had passed away, even though
the other brothers were still alive. The brothers were compared to animals
because their purpose was to prepare reality for the Jewish people to
receive the Torah. This is exemplified by the three professions that Rabbi
Shimon mentions: Drying figs prepares raw food stuffs for consumption;
a porter moves things from a less desirable place to a more desirable
place; and a storekeeper enables a person to acquire something that initially
belonged to someone else.
The lesson for us? It's not always our job to complete the mission. The
twelve brothers are to the Jewish people, what parents are for their children,
and what a team player is to his colleagues-we prepare the way for others.
This does not make our efforts any less noble or important. In fact, since
the goal can not be reached without our efforts, it is as if we also participated
in the final accomplishment. Do not lose hope if the end seems distant.
Our actions now are a necessary step toward fulfillment. This is both
crucial on a personal level, and also applies to the entire Jewish people
in our united effort to bring Moshiach, may it be now. Start by doing
another good deed today!
Shabbat Shalom , Shaul
P.S. Please also read my weekly Shabbat Law, below.)
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For all our insights for this parsha:
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