Parashat Vayechi

Revision as of 22:20, 19 December 2013

Parshas Vayechi is the 12th a final parsha in the Book of Berashis. It contains 85 pesukim and section from Melachim I regarding the passing of King Dovid is read for the Haftora.

Yackov's Life in Egypt

Yackov lived in Egypt for 17 years. These years were the most prosperous of his life, where he attained great levels in happiness and satisfactions. Despite the fact that he had spent years in the Holy Land, Yackov was only able to fully attain these levels in the impure Egypt, at the onset of the horrible Egyptian exile that was already beginning to manifest. The main completion of 'happiness' is not when a person manages to push aside bitterness and suffering but rather when he grabs this pain and transforms that itself into happiness. Using these methods Yackov caused great clarifications in the spiritual 'Chambers of Exchange', paving way for the Tikkunim of the later generations. During these years Yackov fully grasped how the 'final redemption' could only arrive once the Tzadikim descend to the lowest places and collect the elements of holiness from there.

Yackov Binds Yosef by an Oath

Yackov's prosperous years of life in Egypt draw to an end. Having reached age 147, Yackov fears he will soon pass away and calls Yosef, binding him by an oath to bury him in Mearos Hamachpala in Chevron. Yosef swears by his fathers Bris Milah and then Yackov bows to his son.

Burial in Chevron

Yackov did not wish to be buried in Egypt so his tomb would not become an object of idolatrous worship and that he be spared the suffering of Gilgul Mechilos during the time of Resurrection. He was also aware that during the future Ten Plagues that would afflict Egypt, all its top soil would turn to lice and Yackov did not wish to have this occur around his body. Yackov had previously purchased the rights to the last remaining plot in Mearos Hamachpela from his brother Esav.

The Oath

Paraoh and the Egyptians had seen great blessing since Yackov arrived in Egypt, including the ending of the 'great famine' that was supposed to run for an additional five years. In a society run on meta physical forces they were very unlikely to give up a spiritual asset like Yackov's tomb. Yosef held the position of 'Second to King' giving him the power to fulfill Yackov's burial request and was therefore chosen over the other brothers. Later after blessing the other tribes, he commended them as well to fill out his burial request.

As traditional to hold an object of a Mitzvah to reinforce an oath at the time it is takes, Yosef placed his hand near his fathers Milah. Although the Avos practiced many of the Mitzvos, either in their final form, in other manifestations or at their root levels, Mila was the only physical Mitzvah which had officially been issued by Hashem to date.

Yackov Bows

Yackov bows towards the head of his bed, the resting place of the Schina which tends to hover above the head of the ill, at the same time giving honor to Yosef. Although Yosef was his son, he held a position of royalty and was therefore given honor. Both Moshe and Eliyahu deduced from this incident that it was proper to give honor to kings, despite their wickedness.

Blessing of Menashe and Ephraim

At some later point after the oath, Yackov became ill. Yosef is informed of this event by his son Ephraim who spent his days studying under Yackov. Yosef fearing his father's time had come, takes his two sons Menashe and Ephraim and travels from the Egyptian capital to the province of Goshen to visit him. Upon being informed of his son's arrival, Yackov sits up thereby granting honor to his position of royalty.

Splitting of the Tribe of Yosef

In

Reiteration of Burial Request

Initial Rejection

Yackov prepares himself to bless Menashe and Ephraim and suddenly the Shichina detaches herself from him. Yackov gazes deeper into their essence and sees how the wicked Achav ben Amri will descend from Ephraim and Yehu ben Nimshi from Menashe. He then asks Yosef if their was some flaw in the birth of his children that could render such consequences that render them unfit for his blessing. Yosef then pulls out the engagement and Ketuba documents that he created in preparation for his marriage to Usnas, proving his marriage was completely legit according to the guidelines of Holiness. Yosef then beseeches Hashem for mercy and the Holy Spirit comes to rest on Yackov.

Achav and Yehu

Achav and Yehu were more then black sheep in the family hundreds of years later, them and their dependents were personally responsible for causing the bulk of the Jewish Nation to commit horrible sins for periods lasting a number of generations and for the eventual exile of the Ten tribes and their almost obliteration off the face of active participation in the spiritual history of the world.

The Debate

There is a very hard spiritual service of trying to find the good points in each Jew despite their extreme wickedness wickedness. Even big Tzadikim such as Yeshayahu, Hoshea and Eliyahu had difficulty doing this properly in certain cases. When Yackov countered the eminence wickedness of Achav and Yehu, his ability to find their good points became exhausted.

Switching of the Hands

First Blessing

Second Blessing

Granting of Shechem

Yackov's Blessing of the Tribes

Passing of Yackov

Once Yackov passed away the servitude to the Egyptians began in a minor degree. Although there was no actual servitude at that point, Paraoh began to request that they service him.

Passing of Yosef