Tag: bereshit

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

This week we read Vayigash, found in Bereshit 44:18-47:27. As Sara pointed out it’s been one of those weeks (months/years/decades/lives)… It’s been quite intense here at Penguin Girl’s nest (no no eggs just balls of yarn here) and I’m just starting to catch up on the little life things that should have been done weeks ago (such as sleep and clean).

I digress, this parshah is a continuance of last week, with Yosef revealing himself to his brothers and the house of Yaakov (all told 70) descend into Egypt (Mitzrayim) and settle in the land of Goshen. Chabad’s summary may be found here.

Woah. There is a lot that could be done in attempting to explain this parshah.

I can’t. I will hopefully do some more learning on the text as the day (and shabbos) progress but do not know now where that may lead.

שׁבּת שׁלום

This week. Wow. What a week. I’m at the office at my normal time but not (aka I’m here at 7:30 but able to do my own things as I need to until appointments begin at 9:30) and will have to have huge notes to remind me it’s Friday and not my normal schedule. As it is I’m tempting things by expecting the impossible from the 4/5/6/F/B/Q trains this afternoon as I scramble to make it home before 4:11.

Anyway, this week we read Mikeitz, Bereshit 41:1-44:17.

What is this parshah reading about? In short, Pharoah dreams and Joseph correctly interprets these dreams and becomes governor, marries, and has two sons. Famine spreads, ten of Joseph’s brothers come down to Egypt and to buy from the “stores”. The brothers end up meeting Joseph though they do not recognize him. In the end the make a second trip with Benjamin (after Judah agrees to be responsible) and after a nice meal hosted by Joseph a silver goblet is planted with Benjamin and he is to be enslaved to Joseph and the others are to return to Jacob without him.

It’s chanukah. Chanukah is not about presents, though we do give some in our family (which these days seem to revolve around wool– I’m not complaining). Chanukah isn’t about how to spell it in English transliteration, though I’m not consistent. Chanukah is about a miracle. With the rush of this time of year and my own incredibly busy week it’s been difficult to remember that. I know that I will be gazing into the lights tonight. I wonder what I will see.

Four candles are lit tonight before sundown (and lighting of the shabbos candles). They should be long enough to make sure that they burn through full nightfall and last 30 minutes beyond. The blessings in ASL may be found at this image. It’s a bit confusing with R&#8594L and L&#8594R issues.

שׁבּת שׁלום