Va-y'chi
וַיְחִי
[Jacob] Lived
Genesis 47:28–50:26

When Is Va-y'chi Read?
/ 14 Tevet 5782
/ 14 Tevet 5783
/ 18 Tevet 5784
Summary
- Jacob blesses his grandchildren Ephraim and Manasseh. (48:1-20)
- Jacob's twelve sons gather around his deathbed, and each receives an evaluation and a prediction of his future. (49:1-33)
- Joseph mourns his father's death and has Jacob embalmed. Jacob is buried in Hebron in the cave of the field of the Machpelah in the land of Canaan. (50:1-14)
- Joseph assures his concerned brothers that he has forgiven them and promises to care for them and their families. (50:15-21)
- Just before he dies, Joseph tells his brothers that God will return them to the Land that God promised to the patriarchs. The Children of Israel promise Joseph that they will take his bones with them when they leave Egypt. (50:22-26)
More Va-y'chi Commentaries
Learn More About Parashat Va-y'chi with BimBam
Va-y'chi: Jacob Blesses his Sons, in Rhyme!
After journeys, revelations, struggles and visions, our ancestors take stock of their blessings in this week's Torah parasha, the last one in Bereshit - closing out the book of Genesis. Marcus J. Freed - poet, teacher, playwright and actor - gives voice - or is that voices? - to the whole thing. Enjoy this video and more with BimBam.
Listen to Podcasts About Va-y'chi
Listen to Rabbi Rick Jacobs discuss Parashat Va-y'chi in these episodes of his podcast, On the Other Hand: Ten Minutes of Torah.
8 Lessons for Today's World in the Book of Genesis
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Ten Minutes of Torah: Va-y'chi Commentary
Using Our “God-Sparks” to Reconcile Our Relationships
By: Chris Harrison
,By: Rabbi Dara Lithwick
D'VAR TORAH BY: CHRIS HARRISON AND RABBI DARA LITHWICKThe book of B’reishit is, in essence, one big, messy story about family. While the relationships discussed in this book are imperfect, they matter because people matter. Imperfect as these families are, they’re still sacred because God exists...
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