swear that he will not bury Yaakov in Egypt KI TEITZEI but rather with his forefathers. Yaakov VAYECHI falls ill. He tells Yosef that G-d appeared to him in the Land of Israel; he was told his descendants would have a permanent ALIYA-BY-ALIYA hold in the land of Israel. Ephraim and SEDRA SUMMARY Menashe will be treated as equal tribes in dividing the land. Rachel died on the way Rabbi Reuven into the land and I buried her there. Tradburks The Jewish people are ensconced in Director of RCA Egypt. And that is precisely the theme of Israel Region this parsha. Yaakov is fighting, pushing, Vayechi means life, yet the parsha begins perseverating on one theme; this is not with talk of death and ends with death. home. All he talks about is the land of Yaakov demands to be buried in Israel. Israel: don’t bury me in Egypt, Ephraim Yosef swears he will. Yaakov elevates his and Menashe will be equals in dividing grandchildren, Ephraim and Menashe to the land, may they prosper in the land (of be equal to his children as tribes settling Israel); he blesses the sons emphasizing the land of Israel. He blesses Ephraim their locale in the land. and Menashe. Yaakov calls all his sons Yaakov is insisting: we are here but we’re and blesses each of them. Yaakov dies. He going to be there. is buried amidst great honor in Maarat HaMachpela. The brothers are afraid In fact, were I choosing where to begin this that now Yosef will exact revenge. Yosef parsha, I would have backed up one verse. reassures them. Yosef asks to be buried in (Though the word “Vayechi” has a nice ring Israel when the Jewish people return. He to it). The last verse of last week’s parsha is: dies and is placed in a coffin in Egypt. The Yisrael dwelt in the land of Egypt, Goshen, beloved book of Breishit is concluded. held it, and were exceedingly prosperous. 1st Aliya (47:28-48:9) Yaakov asks Yosef to That is the exact same verse (almost) of the beginning of Vayeshev. There, Yaakov wanted to settle, take root, build a nation in Israel. Now, here he is doing exactly that; settling, taking root. But in the wrong place; in Egypt, not Israel. Why does Yaakov mention that Rachel died suddenly and was buried on the way to Beit Lechem? Perhaps this is a tender moment of father and son. He is speaking 6 TORAH TIDBITS / VAYECHI 5781 to Yosef. “Yosef, you lost your mother tragically, suddenly. Rachel, my dear wife. Your mother. You, so young, it was all so ““AnotherA nother llockdown?ockdown? sudden, you did not have a chance to bury TThehe mmarinaarina aandnd bbeacheach aarere your mother in the way I am asking you wwithinithin tthehe oonene kkilometerilometer to bury me. You and I shared that tragic llimitimit ooff oourur nnewew bbeautifuleautiful time. Now, it is so different. I elderly. You, AAshkelonshkelon aapartment!partment! a grown man, of great success. Maybe we would have had more children. In her MManyany tthanks,hanks, DDavid.”avid.” memory, in her honor, your 2 sons take said another happy client their place as full sons of mine, to fill the Owning your own apartment does not just allow void that might have been.” you freedom, but offers monetary savings, and an increase in your investment value. A wistful, tender, shared moment, amidst Anglo-populated, sunny Ashkelon is the answer! It’s very affordable – from $500,000 with just a 15% instructions of national import. down payment, mortgages available as well as bank guarantees. Rental income often in excess of 3.5%. 2nd Aliya (48:10-16) Yaakov cannot see. He hugs and kisses Ephraim and Menashe. Yaakov places his right hand on Ephraim, L I V E O P P O S I T E T H E S E A the younger; left hand on Menashe the 0 5 4 4 - 3 3 2 6 2 1 davidz@A shkelonProperties.com older. G-d before whom my forefathers walked and Who protected me, bless these. And may they increase in the land. You can’t but hear echoes of Yaakov’s father Yitzchak: blind, gave the bracha to MarSea Modest Swim & Casualwear Marci Rapp the younger, not the older. But here Yaakov www.MarSeaModest.net (NIS) 050-424-8359 does not bless just one. He blesses both with www.MarSeaModest.com ($USD) the same bracha. That changes everything. The era of one is in and one is out is over. All are part of the Jewish people. And this is grandchildren. Grandchildren means long term, future, legacy, all the children. THE BEST DESIGN, ENGINEERING AND INSTALLATION OF AIR rd 3 Aliya (48:17-22) Yosef does not like CONDITIONING SYSTEMS. the switch of hands. He corrects Yaakov. JUST ASK ANY OF OUR Yaakov demurs. Both will be great, though THOUSANDS OF HAPPY CLIENTS. Condolences to Neville Gatoff and family on the passing JLEM 02-628-8282 I TLV 03-720-8000 of his MOTHER a"h tzviair.com OU ISRAEL CENTER 7 the younger will be greater. He blessed first born. Shimon and Levi, due to your them both: The Jews will bless with “May anger, do not associate my honor. Yehuda, G-d make you as Ephraim and Menashe.” you saved my child from destruction; authority will not depart from you. Yosef suffered by his father’s favouritism Zvulun will dwell on the coast. Yissachar of him. He does want the same for his is a powerful worker; he will see the land’s children. But Yaakov insists. Because goodness and beauty. Dan, the nation’s there is a difference between exclusion judge. G-d, we wait Your salvation. and distinction. Yaakov is not excluding anyone. Both are in. Both are blessed. One word is missing from Yaakov’s address Jews in the future will bless with both to each of his sons: G-d. The Torah does Ephraim and Menashe. But Yaakov tells not say he blesses his sons. Blessings are Yosef: while from now on all Jews are part from G-d. Yitzchak blessed his son: May of the Jewish people, while all are in, they G-d give you of the dew of the heavens… are not identical. Some will be greater, Even Yaakov himself just blessed Ephraim some less great. and Menashe: May G-d before whom my forefathers walked bless these young men. 4th Aliya (49:1-19) Yaakov calls his sons to And Yaakov told Yosef the Jewish people tell them what will occur with them. He will bless: May G-d bless you as Ephraim addresses them individually. Reuven, my and Menashe. OU Israel Blessings are from G-d. Why does Yaakov mourns the passing of not mention even one time G-d’s name in his address to his sons? Because he is not Rabbi Yehuda Herzl blessing them. He is describing them. He is Henkin zt"l emphasizing to them, as he is about to die, that their place is not in Egypt. Their place Rabbi, posek, and gentleman, is in the land of Israel. And they will get respected for his scholarship, there, with all their varied talents. To build sensitivity, and empathy. a nation. A nation needs leaders, merchant marines, hard working agriculture, justice. His responsa Benei Banim, and his Yaakov is stating as a matter of fact to his many piskei Halacha, books and sons what the state of the Jewish people in articles confronted the challenges of the land of Israel will look like. You will all the day with erudition and insight. be included because all your talents will be needed. And you are all different and We extend heartfelt condolences to essential. his wife, Rabbanit Chana Henkin, th their children and families. 5 Aliya (49:20-26) Yaakov’s address to each son continues. Gad, a legionnaire. Asher, bread and delicacies. Naftali, a swift ת.נ.צ.ב.ה 8 TORAH TIDBITS / VAYECHI 5781 messenger. Yosef had adversity but with G-d’s help prevailed and was enormously blessed. With the description of Binyamin in the next aliya, the descriptions are complete. The Jewish nation will be built in the land of Israel as a result of all of you. None are out, all are in. It will be a nation of agriculture, military, leadership, bounty, justice, commerce, and trade. It will be a colorful, diverse and successful nation. Yaakov is driving hard, fighting, persevering in his message: we are only True wholesaler from the diamond here in Egypt temporarily. The land of boursa with over 25 years experience member diamond dealers club Israel is where we will be. Engagement Rings ∙ Stud Earrings 6th Aliya (49:27-50:20) Yaakov’s end is Pendants ∙ Tennis Bracelets near. He commands his sons to bury him in 050-573-9061 [email protected] Maarat Hamachpela, describing in detail www.JeffMorDiamondJewelry.com Avraham’s acquisition of it and the burial there of all the avot and imahot. Yaakov ise dies. 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