{"id":1838,"date":"2017-12-27T14:04:53","date_gmt":"2017-12-27T14:04:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/batkol.info\/?p=1838"},"modified":"2017-12-27T14:04:53","modified_gmt":"2017-12-27T14:04:53","slug":"parashat-vayechi","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ratisbonne.org.il\/bk\/2017\/12\/27\/parashat-vayechi\/","title":{"rendered":"Parashat Vayechi"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Shabbat Table Talk<\/strong><\/p>\n

Parashat Vayechi,<\/em><\/strong> 29th<\/sup> December 2017<\/p>\n

Week of 24th<\/sup> -30th<\/sup> \u00a0December 2017<\/p>\n

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Torah portion<\/em><\/strong>: Genesis 47:28-50:26\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Haftarah<\/em><\/strong>: 1 Kings 2:1-12<\/p>\n

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Theme<\/strong>: God\u2019s unexpected ways beyond comprehension!<\/p>\n

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Download<\/a><\/p>\n

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V<\/em><\/strong>ayechi, Yaakov \u201cAnd Jacob lived\u201d is the opening word of the parashah <\/em>which \u00a0followed his lifespan. Where one would have expected an account of his life and achievements, follows instead his instruction for his impending passing on. \u201cThis final parashah<\/em> of Genesis brings to a close the age of the Patriarchs\u201d (Lieber, Etz Hayim, <\/em>293). It is a conclusion that touches on a number of issues: (i) God\u2019s covenant with his people according to the promise to their forefathers that they would possess and dwell in the Promised Land (48:21; 50:24). (ii) Jacob\u2019s last will and death. Jacob makes preparations for his burial summoning and instructing his son Joseph, and not the other sons, for his final wish making him swear an oath that he would accomplish it: \u201cDo me this favor, \u2026 please do not bury me in Egypt. When I lie down with my fathers, take me up from Egypt and bury me in their burial place\u201d (47:29-30). (iii) Jacob adopts Joseph\u2019s sons begotten to him in Egypt as his sons, blesses them assuring them of an inheritance. (iv) Joseph reconciles with his brothers, leaving no room for worry or revenge (50:19-21) (Zimmerman, Experiencing<\/em> Torah<\/em>).<\/em> (v) An introduction of a new era without Jacob and Joseph was no more but the sons of Jacob by themselves in Egypt. Eventually all the sons of Jacob died out and life took a turn with new leadership in the land, ignorant of Joseph that reduced them into slaves (Ex<\/em> 1:9-10). (vi) God\u2019s ways of operation are far removed from our ways: \u201cThough you intended me harm, God intended it for good\u2026 to keep alive a numerous people\u201d (50:20).<\/p>\n

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\u00a0The parashat and the Haftarah have something in common, that is the approaching death of Jacob, of Joseph and of King David and what the future would entail for those left behind. All the three give farewell speeches; Jacob addresses his sons (49:29-31), Joseph his brothers (50:25) and King David his son Solomon.<\/p>\n

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\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 It is notable that Joseph had a privileged place in the life of Jacob right from the moment of birth: \u201cborn to him in his old age\u201d (37:3) to the moment of death. Jacob had preference for Joseph (37:3, Etz<\/em> Hayim<\/em>, 306); wept for the loss of his son (37:30.33-35), whose face he never expected to behold again (48:11). Only the sons of Joseph receive a particular blessing from the grandfather who adopts them as his sons (48:5). He receives \u201ca double share, thus elevating him to the status of the firstborn\u201d, (Etz Hayim<\/em>, 298; cf. Plaut, 309; Gen<\/em> 48:22). When Jacob died, it is Joseph, not the other brothers, who is mentioned to be in great sorrow, mourning him (50:1-3) and making preparation for a decent burial in his homeland as he per his last will (50:7).<\/p>\n

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Study questions<\/em><\/strong>: 1. When have you experienced God\u2019s unpredictability in his operations and how have you reacted to it? 2. What lesson should we learn from Joseph\u2019s dealing and reconciliation with his brothers?<\/p>\n

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Bibliography<\/em><\/strong>:\u00a0 Lieber, Etz Hayim, Torah and Commentary<\/em>, New York, 2001; Plaut, The Torah. A Modern Commentary. <\/em>New York, 2006; Zimmermann, \u201cExperiencing Torah\u201d, https:\/\/experiencingtorah.wordpress.com\/2017\/01\/13\/vayechi-genesis-4728-5026\/<\/a><\/p>\n

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This week\u2019s teaching commentary was prepared by<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Sr. Gemma Nalubwama DEP, BA, Uganda<\/strong><\/p>\n

Bat Kol alumna 2015<\/strong><\/p>\n

gnalubwama@yahoo.co.uk<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0[Copyright \u00a9 2017]<\/p>\n

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PLEASE NOTE<\/strong>: The weekly Parashah commentaries represent the research and creative thought of their authors, and are meant to stimulate deeper thinking about the meaning of the Scriptures. While they draw upon the study methods and sources employed by the Bat Kol Institute, the views and conclusions expressed in these commentaries are solely those of their authors, and do not necessarily represent the views of Bat Kol. The commentaries, along with all materials published on the Bat Kol website, are copyrighted by the writers, and are made available for personal and group study, and local church purposes. Permission needed for other purposes. Questions, comments and feedback are always welcome.<\/p>\n

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Bat Kol Institute for Jewish Studies, Jerusalem <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a01983<\/em><\/strong>–2017<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cChristians Studying the Bible within its Jewish milieu, using Jewish Sources.<\/em>\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

Website:<\/em><\/strong> www.batkol.info<\/strong><\/a>; Commentary Admin: <\/strong>gill@batkol.info<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Shabbat Table Talk Parashat Vayechi, 29th December 2017 Week of 24th -30th \u00a0December 2017 \u00a0 Torah portion: Genesis 47:28-50:26\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Haftarah: 1 Kings 2:1-12 \u00a0 Theme: God\u2019s unexpected ways beyond comprehension! \u00a0 Download \u00a0 \u00a0 Vayechi, Yaakov \u201cAnd Jacob lived\u201d is the opening word of the parashah which \u00a0followed his lifespan. Where one would have expected…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":46,"featured_media":1840,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ghostkit_customizer_options":"","ghostkit_custom_css":"","ghostkit_custom_js_head":"","ghostkit_custom_js_foot":"","ghostkit_typography":"","_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ratisbonne.org.il\/bk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1838"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ratisbonne.org.il\/bk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ratisbonne.org.il\/bk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ratisbonne.org.il\/bk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/46"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ratisbonne.org.il\/bk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1838"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.ratisbonne.org.il\/bk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1838\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ratisbonne.org.il\/bk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1840"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ratisbonne.org.il\/bk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1838"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ratisbonne.org.il\/bk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1838"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ratisbonne.org.il\/bk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1838"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}