Parashat Vayechi 

The Gift of Teshuvah! 

Genesis: A Book of Fraternal Feuds!  

Israel Reunited in Egypt but Trapped in Exile!  

We conclude the book of Genesis this week with the reading of Vayechi, which describes the final words of Yaakov before he dies and is buried in the Machpelah Cave in Israel. His children have at last reconciled and reunited, but at what a price, as the first chill of their approaching enslavement can already be felt. 

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Parashat Vayigash 

“What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell just as sweet.” So says Shakespeare. But the Torah assigns great significance to names. So when Yaakov is referred to as both "Yaakov" and "Yisrael" in a single narrative, there must be an explanation.  

Vayigash (Genesis 44:18 - 47:27)  

Parashat Vayigash is read on Shabbat:  

Tevet 11, 5784/December 23, 2023

Parashat Vayigash 

3 Days in Tevet 

Israel's Multi-front War  

Yosef Reunites with his Brothers  

Israel advances in its war in the south to destroy Hamas, even as it engages in war in the north against Hezbollah and other Iranian proxies in Syria, and even as it guards against the Houthis in Yemen and fights terror in Judea and Samaria. The 8th, 9th and 10th of Tevet are all days of mourning for Israel. The 10th is a fast day commemorating the beginning of the Babylonian siege against Jerusalem that ultimately led to the destruction of the first Holy Temple. And Yosef reunites with his brothers and welcomes his father to Egypt, of which we will talk about more next week!