parshah vayechi
Why did I think that the first week without pressing schoolwork (I do have a thesis on the horizon) would allow me the time I desire for learning?
This week is Vayechi, Bereshit (Genesis) 47:28-50:26. This is the last parshah of Bereshit and next week we’ll begin Sh’mot (Exodus).
In Vayechi Jacob lives the last 17 years of his life and makes sure that Joseph will bury him in the Holy Land. He blesses his sons (with Joseph’s sons as his own) an and assigns them roles… Jacob dies in Egypt and a very large procession takes him to be buried in Hebron. Joseph also dies in Egypt (after living to see his children’s children) and begs that his bones also be taken from Egypt to be buried. Before he dies he also reminds that “G-d will remember you and bring you out of this land”.
This week, I’ve not made it further than a cursory glance through the parshah and a few spot checks of my summary above… Joseph’s statement in 50:24-26 that G-d will remember Israel and bring them out of Egypt gives hope to them during the many difficult years to come.
שׁבּת שׁלום