Vayechi

In this parsha

Jacob lives his final seventeen years in Egypt and, sensing death near, makes Joseph swear to bury him in Canaan. He blesses Joseph's sons Ephraim and Manasseh, deliberately crossing his hands to favor the younger. Then he gathers all twelve sons and gives each a prophetic blessing suited to his nature. Jacob dies and is carried up to the Cave of Machpelah in a grand procession. Fearing revenge, the brothers seek Joseph's forgiveness, and he reassures them that God turned their evil intent to good. Joseph dies at 110, charging his family to carry his bones up to the land.

Themes

• Hidden life in exile
• Redemption within concealment
• The tribes' united missions
• Daily renewal and redemption
• Humility and kingship
• Yaakov's enduring life

Must-read teachings

1. 1Hidden Roots of Exile and Redemption“In the Midrash: This portion is closed, for when our father Jacob died, the eyes and hearts of Israel were closed.” The Sefat Emet begins by explaining that Jacob’s passing created a spiritual concealment for Israel, symbolized by the ‘clo…תרל"ה
2. 2Truth in Exile and Redemption“And Jacob was in Egypt.” The Sefat Emet opens by emphasizing Jacob’s presence in Egypt as spiritually significant. My grandfather said that through Jacob’s trait of truth one can find divine vitality even in Egypt. Egypt symbolizes spiritu…תרס"א
3. 3Hiddenness and Revelation in ExileIn the Midrash: “This portion is closed because the eyes and hearts of Israel were closed.” The Sefat Emet begins by explaining that the physical closure of the parashah reflects a spiritual closing in Israel during the start of the exile. …תרמ"ד
4. 4Spiritual Role of the Tribes“In the verse ‘Gather yourselves and I will tell you … that will befall you in the end of days.’” The Sefat Emet opens by noting that Jacob’s call to gather hints at a revelation concerning the future, the “end of days.” “Our sages taught t…תרמ"ו
5. 5Two Messiahs and Divine Influence“In the verse: ‘Gather yourselves and I will tell you; assemble and listen.’” The Sefat Emet notes that Scripture uses two different commands—‘gather’ and ‘assemble’—which signal two distinct types of spiritual gatherings. “These are two ki…תרמ"ד
6. 6Humility and Divine Kingship“In the verse: ‘Judah, you—your brothers shall praise you,’ etc.” The Sefat Emet opens by noting that Judah is given a unique form of praise by his brothers, indicating his essential leadership. For Judah prepared the path for all the Child…תרנ"ז
7. 7Delight of Shabbat Blessings“In the blessing of Joseph: ‘The blessings of your father have prevailed…’” The Sefat Emet opens by noting that Joseph’s blessing is described as surpassing earlier blessings, indicating a higher spiritual root. My grandfather, of blessed m…תרנ"א
8. 8Daily Renewal and RedemptionIn the Midrash on the verse “the Shepherd who feeds me… the Redeemer who redeems me,” it compares sustenance to redemption: just as sustenance occurs daily, so does redemption. The Sefat Emet begins by citing the Midrash, which equates the …תרמ"ב