Vayehi Text Study

Why Bondage?

An exploration of why the Children of Israel were destined to be slaves to Pharaoh

Vayehi

Genesis 47:28-50:26

Fears, Lies, But No Videotape

Jacob's death provokes the latent fear in Joseph's brothers that Joseph bears a grudge against them and the desire to make peace with him.

Seeing The Bigger Picture

Joseph reminds us that our perspective of reality is limited compared to the ultimate meaning that God perceives.

Exile–The Absence Of Jewish Context

The descent into Egypt and Jacob's death left his family in an alien culture, forced to find a context for their traditions within themselves.

Carrying On After The Golden Age

Living after the Civil Rights Movement, we, like the children of Jacob, have the opportunity to carry the ideals of previous generations into the future.

Tied To The Land

Both Jacob and Joseph understood the importance of imbuing their descendants with a commitment to the Land of Israel.

From Fratricide To Fraternal Solidarity

The Joseph story provides us with a domestic model for our national ability to move through reconciliation to solidarity.

Parashat Vayechi: Summary

On his deathbed, Jacob blesses his sons and asks them to bury him in Canaan.