Vayechi Videos

Before Jacob arrived in Egypt, he sent Judah ahead to prepare an environment of Torah. This Torah infrastructure is what enabled Judaism to flourish even in a depraved land like Egypt.

The portion of Vayechi contains two (seemingly) conflicting components: the seventeen best years of Yaakov’s life were in Egypt and yet the parsha begins with the narrative of his passing and leading to the subsequent subjugation. The resolution is connected to the fast of Teves 10, and offers a timely message for our current exile.

Torah study has always been the bedrock of the Jewish People. What are the parameters of this mitzvah, and what’s the ultimate purpose in learning G-d’s infinite wisdom?

Conventional wisdom says that the ideal place for a Jew to be buried is in the land of Israel, yet upon examining classic Torah sources, we surprisingly discover that it’s not that simple—there seems to be conflicting Torah traditions…

When Yaakov instructs Yosef to have him buried in Israel, he insists Yosef swears.

How could Yaakov have lived his best years in the spiritually toxic land of Egypt?

Yaakov's wish to reveal to his sons when Moshiach would come empowers us all to appreciate that we can bring Moshiach, despite our spiritual shortcomings.

How to live your best life in the most challenging circumstances.

From Yaakov rearranging his hands when blessing Yosef's two sons, and different from Yosef’s preference of whom to give precedence, we learn two key methods for spiritual success in spiritually unhealthy places.

The litmus test of genuine spiritual growth is not to get caught up in your spiritual growth at the expense of others.

Why Yaakov compares his sons to animals, and the question of enthusiasm vs. quality, and the Siyum of Masechtas Kiddushin.

Rashi offers three layers of insight into how Yosef convinced Pharaoh that Yaakov had to be buried in Israel.

Why did Yaakov want to divulge when Moshiach is coming? And why wouldn't Hashem allow it?

A deeper understanding of who among Yaakov’s children carried his coffin for burial in Israel and how it sheds light on the two dynamics of the Jews being enslaved and also transcending the Egyptian exile.

A closer look at Rashi’s commentary that Yosef help raise his great grandchildren, offers insight into whether we are responsible to teach Torah to our great grandchildren.

Did Yaakov not trust Yosef with his last will and testament to be buried in the Holy Land? If yes, why was the protective measure of an oath necessary?

How is it possible that the best year's of our forefather Jacob's life were spent in Egypt and not in the Holy Land? What does this teach us about the purpose of the soul's descent into the body? Guest Expert: Rabbi Tzvi Freeman. (From “Messages”—Season 4, Episode 26)

Ch. 47 verses 28-31: Yaakov lives in the land of Egypt for seventeen years. He will live to the age of 147. Before he dies he calls for Yosef and asks him to take an oath that when he dies he will bury him in the land of Canaan in the Cave of the Macpelah. Yosef agrees to do fulfill his father's request. Yaakov asks him to swear to him and he takes an oath.

Ch. 48 verses 1-9: Yosef is told that his father is on his deathbed. He takes his two sons with him so that his father can bless them before he dies. He tells Yosef that his two sons would each be counted as one of the tribes of Israel, just as Ruevain and Shimon. Yaakov then explains why he buried Rachel on the road to Bethlehem. Yaakov then sees the sons of Yosef and he asks who they are? Yosef assures him that they are his children. Yaakov then asks him to bring then to him so that he can bless them.

Ch. 48 verses 21-22. Ch. 49 verses 1-4: Yaakov tells Yosef that he is going to die, but that Hashem would be with them and return them to the land of their fathers. He then gives him Shechem as an inheritance over and above that of his brothers. Ch. 49 Yaakov gathers his sons and wants to tell them about the end of time but the Divinity of G-d leaves him. He then begins to bless his sons. He begins with the eldest Reuvain, whom he criticizes as being unstable as water.

Ch. 49 verses 5-12: Yaakov continues with Shimon and Levi,he curses their anger. Then he turns to Yehudah who starts to leave thinking his father would criticize him about his affair with his daughter-in-law. Yaakov sensing his concern changes the direction of his words and Blesses Yehudah with words of praise and promise. He would continue to bless the rest of his sons without any words of condemnation.

Ch. 49 verses 13-18: Yaakov continues with the blessing of Zevulun, who were the businessman who traveled on the seas. They supported their brother Yisaachar who were the Torah scholars. They were blessed after Zevulun to be successful in their learning and their service to Hashem. Next he blessed Dan whom he referred to as a "serpent on the road." His blessing was an allusion to Samson who was from the tribe of Dan and would judge them for 20 years. He finishes with a prayer for the generations," for your salvation I have waited O L-rd."

Ch. 49 verses 19-28: Continues with Yaakov blessing his sons. He blesses Gad, Asher, and Naphtali with short blessings. However, with Yosef he showers him with special blessings and praise. He concludes with the youngest son Binyamin. The Torah concludes his blessing with the words that "he blessed them," to elude to the fact that they were all included in each others blessings.

Ch. 48 verses 29-33 Ch. 50 verses 1-13: Yaakov finishes blessing his sons. He instructs them once again to bury him in the Cave of the Machpelah in the land of Canaan. He expires and is gathered to his people. Ch. 50 Yosef has his father embalmed for forty days and then the Egyptians mourn for him for thirty days. He then asks Pharaoh for permission to take his father to Canaan to be buried. Pharaoh agrees and he and his brothers and families accompanied by Egyptian dignitaries and an army take his father to the Machpelah. They mourn for their father for seven days at Abel-mizraim. Then they carry him to the cave of the Machpelah for burial.

Ch. 50 verses 14-26: Yosef and his brothers return to Egypt after burying their father. The brothers detect a difference in Yosef attitude towards them. They are concerned that now that Yaakov was dead that Yosef would exact his revenge on them or their children for selling him. They send a messenger to tell him that their father on his deathbed had instructed them to say to him that he should forgive them. He assures them that he will continue to support them and their children. Yosef lives to see great grandchildren. He is the first of the brothers to die. Before he dies he makes all the children of Israel swear that they will not leave Egypt without his bones.

Learn a beautiful teaching of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, in loving memory of Rabbi Jonathan Sacks. The source text is a sicha for parshat Vayechi from Likkutei Sichos vol.10—as adapted by Rabbi Sacks in his book “Torah Studies”. This sicha is being studied world-wide by Project Likkutei Sichos—an initiative to facilitate the learning of the sichos of the Rebbe.

Learn a beautiful teaching of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, in loving memory of Rabbi Jonathan Sacks. The source text is a sicha for parshat Vayechi from Likkutei Sichos vol.10—as adapted by Rabbi Sacks in his book “Torah Studies”. This sicha is being studied world-wide by Project Likkutei Sichos—an initiative to facilitate the learning of the sichos of the Rebbe.

Learn a beautiful teaching of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, in loving memory of Rabbi Jonathan Sacks. The source text is a sicha for parshat Vayechi from Likkutei Sichos vol.10—as adapted by Rabbi Sacks in his book “Torah Studies”. This sicha is being studied world-wide by Project Likkutei Sichos—an initiative to facilitate the learning of the sichos of the Rebbe.

Learn a beautiful teaching of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, in loving memory of Rabbi Jonathan Sacks. The source text is a sicha for parshat Vayechi from Likkutei Sichos vol.10—as adapted by Rabbi Sacks in his book “Torah Studies”. This sicha is being studied world-wide by Project Likkutei Sichos—an initiative to facilitate the learning of the sichos of the Rebbe.

Learn a beautiful teaching of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, in loving memory of Rabbi Jonathan Sacks. The source text is a sicha for parshat Vayechi from Likkutei Sichos vol.10—as adapted by Rabbi Sacks in his book “Torah Studies”. This sicha is being studied world-wide by Project Likkutei Sichos—an initiative to facilitate the learning of the sichos of the Rebbe.

Learn a beautiful teaching of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, in loving memory of Rabbi Jonathan Sacks. The source text is a sicha for parshat Vayechi from Likkutei Sichos vol.10—as adapted by Rabbi Sacks in his book “Torah Studies”. This sicha is being studied world-wide by Project Likkutei Sichos—an initiative to facilitate the learning of the sichos of the Rebbe.

Unfortunately, it is not totally uncommon to find resentment or bad blood between family members. It almost always starts out small but somehow ends up spiraling out of control. What does Judaism say about family feuds?