Vayyichi

Hi,

Today we merge the daily Torah Thought email with the weekly Torah Portion Thought email. This week's Torah portion is Vayyichi, the last portion in the book of Bereishit/Genesis.

The portion begins with Yaakov's family now settled in Egypt. Yaakov calls in Yosef’s two sons Menasheh and Efrayim, and promises to make them heirs and tribes of Israel, like Yosef's brothers. Yaakov’s purpose seems to be to say that even though they were born in Egypt, they are 'Jewish.'

Yaakov blesses Menashah and Efrayim, but he gives a blessing first to Efrayim, the younger and then to Menasheh, despite the fact that Menasheh was older. Yosef questions this, and Yaakov explains that this switch is part of the destiny of the two tribes.

Yaakov demands that Yosef swear that on Yaakov's death, Yosef will have his body brought back to Israel for burial in the Cave of Machpelah in Hebron.

Before Yaakov dies, he calls his children to him and blesses each of them according to both their personal past and their tribal future. Each lesson carries a prophetic message unique to that tribe.

Yaakov dies and is buried in Israel.

Yosef dies at the end of the portion, after telling his family that Gd will come to take them out of Egypt. According to tradition, Yosef is the first of Yaakov's children to die; this is considered an occupational hazard of leadership.

Yosef is buried in Egypt; he is exhumed and brought to Israel for burial when the Jews leave Egypt later.

Have a great day,
Mordechai