Parshas Vayechi!

This week’s Parsha is called, Parshas Vayechi.

At the beginning of this week’s Parsha, Yaakov (Jacob) was dying. He asked his son Yosef (Josef) to swear to him that he would burry him in the land of Israel with his fathers Avraham (Abraham) and Yitzchak (Isaac). Yosef promised his father and then asked his father to bless his sons Ephraim and Manashe before he died. Yosef brings Ephraim and Manashe to him with Ephraim facing Yaakov’s left and Manashe facing his right. But when Yaakov placed his hands on the boys, he crisscrossed his hands, (placing his right hand on Ephraim and left hand on Manashe.) Yosef realized by the placement of his father’s hands that he was going to give the younger son Ephraim the first B’racha (blessing) and he became very disturbed and switched them back and told his father that Manasseh was the older one (which Yaakov’s right hand should be on.) Yaakov told Yosef that he had his hands the way he wanted them and assured him that while the older brother Manashe was going to be great, his younger son Ephraim would be greater yet. Yaakov also informed Yosef that in the future, whenever a father will bless his son he will bless him saying, “May G-d make you like Ephraim and Manasseh” (which we still do today).

When Yaakov finished blessing them he blessed his own sons. Interestingly, when Yaakov blessed his children he described each of them according to something that Yaakov thought best characterized them.

He issued the following:

Reuven (Ruben); like a gushing stream because he acted very quickly.

Shimon (Simon) and Laivi (Levi); he informed them that when they entered Eretz Yisroel (Israel) they would have small pieces of land in different places. Because they did a terrible sin when they massacred the whole city of Shechem and consequently could not be together.

Yehuda (Judah); was like a lion because Yaakov saw in his Ruach HaKodesh (for definition of Ruach HaKodesh check Parshas Vayeishev,) that Yehuda’s decedents would be Kings and great leaders. He was compared to a lion because just like a lion is the “King” of the animals so too, Yehuda would produce kings and leaders. Dovid HaMelech (King David) was a descendant from Yehuda. It is brought down that the Moshioch (Messiah) will also be from Yehuda.

Zevulun (Zebulon); a ship at sea because he would have many ships at sea and would be very busy buying and selling merchandise.

Yissachar (Issachar); a donkey because the donkey carries heavy loads and his children will become talmidai chachamim (Torah scholars) who carry the yoke/burden of the Torah.

Don (Dan); he was likened to a snake because when his tribe will go out to battle they will attack like a snake does.

Asher; to delicacies because when he would settle in Israel his land would be very prosperous.

Gad; a strong army of soldiers.

Naftali; he was compared to a doe because Naftali was known for his amazing speed.

Yosef (Josef); a beautiful plant (some say near a spring) because just like a plant has many branches so too Yosef will have many children.

Binyamin (Benjamin); like the wolf because his tribe would fight like wolfs in battles.

Then Yaakov (the last of our Avos or forefathers) passed away. Yosef made sure that he and his fellow brothers would burry him in Eretz Yisroel. Before they took his body to Israel, the Egyptians embalmed (preserved his body) him because they cared about him so much, and because of the wonderful impression the true Tzadik left on them. Yosef said to his brothers that he too would die soon and that when they would one day leave Egypt that they should carry his bones into Eretz Yisroel with them.

I think that we should understand what happened at the end of Yaakov’s life. Even after going through so many, countless, struggles, he left the world having made such a powerful Kiddush Hashem (sanctification of the name of Hashem) that even the Egyptian people wanted to care for him by embalming him. We also learn that most if not all of Egypt mourned for the loss of Yaakov.

We should all take away from this Yaakov that if we live by the Torah which is the source of “Truth” we will make such a strong Kiddush Hashem that the whole world will recognize it and we will fulfill our responsibility as serving as a light unto the nations and strengthen our own D’vaikus (attachment) to our Creator. –Amen!

CHAZAK, CHAZAK, VENISCHAZEIK!

(Be Strong! Be Strong! And may we be strengthened!)

- We have just concluded the first book of Moses a.k.a. B’raishis!

HAVE A GREAT SHABBOS AND WEEKEND!

Stay tuned for next week when we begin the second Sidra (book) called Sh’mos, and the first Parsha is the “Title Track!”