Vayechi

וַיְחִי
[Jacob] Lived

Genesis 47:28–50:26

When Is Vayechi Read?

/ 18 Tevet 5784
/ 11 Tevet 5785
/ 14 Tevet 5786

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)

Ten Minutes of Torah: Vayechi Commentary

an image of a Rabbi reading from the Torah to a group of kids

Serach Bat Asher Teaches us a Lesson

By: Rabbi Stacy Rigler

When I was a student in the HUC-JIR School of Education, I went on a b'nei mitzvah weekend family retreat. On Shabbat morning, the Rabbi at Kehilat Israel in Pacific Palisades, California shared a story with the families. The story was a midrash, a story about the Torah portion Vayechi and a woman named Serach Bat Asher.

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Learn More About Parashat Vayechi 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 Vayechi