91快播

Honor, Prophecy, and 鈥淢other Earth鈥�

Dec 12, 2013 By Matthew Berkowitz | Commentary | Vayehi

One of the unsolved mysteries of Tanakh relates directly to Parashat Vayehi.

From Pain to Peace

Dec 20, 2012 By Matthew Berkowitz | Commentary | Vayehi

The response of Joseph鈥檚 brothers in the aftermath of Jacob鈥檚 death is dramatic: 鈥淲hen Joseph鈥檚 brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, 鈥榃hat if Joseph still bears a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrong we did him!鈥欌�� (Gen. 50:15).

Memorials of Healing

Jan 6, 2007 By Matthew Berkowitz | Commentary | Vayehi

On the surface, Parashat Vayehi, the concluding Torah reading of both Genesis and the Joseph narrative, is about death.

Was Abe Lincoln Honest?

Jan 7, 2012 By David Hoffman | Commentary | Vayehi

A well-known reading of our Torah portion for this Shabbat finds a source from the story of Joseph’s interactions with his brothers for the idea that the small fib鈥攖he white lie鈥攊s religiously justified in certain circumstances.

It鈥檚 Not What You Say . . .

Dec 19, 2012 By Deborah Miller | Commentary | Vayehi

We have learned that two trees do not make a pattern鈥攊t takes three. So we have to look at a series of events in order to learn about Jacob. What can we discern?

The Older Shall Serve the Younger

Dec 11, 2013 By 91快播 Alumni | Commentary | Vayehi

By Rabbi Jeremy Kalmanofsky

The Viennese psychologist Alfred Adler theorized that birth order within a family was a decisive factor in shaping one鈥檚 personality. Firstborn children tend to be natural leaders, he theorized, because parents tend to shower them with attention, and younger children tend to look up to their big siblings for guidance. However, firstborn kids tend to struggle with a sense of 鈥渄ethronement鈥� when a younger one comes along, feeling that this new little interloper has knocked them off their pedestals of parental love.

Final Blessings

Dec 30, 2014 By Mychal Springer | Commentary | Vayehi

One model of family caring for the dying is embodied powerfully in this week鈥檚 parashah. Jacob, aware that he is dying, speaks plain words to his sons: 鈥淚 am about to die鈥� (Gen. 48:21) . . . 鈥淚 am about to be gathered to my kin鈥� (49:29). By giving voice to the reality that his life is ending, Jacob opens up sacred opportunities with his family. He creates moments to put his blessings into words and communicates his wishes for what will happen to his body: that he be buried with his family in the family cave so that he can be gathered to his kin in all ways. The naming of this truth enables closure and peace.

Mourning for Joseph

Dec 25, 2015 By Library of the Jewish Theological Seminary | Commentary | Vayehi

Joseph and Zulaykha was written by Ja虅mi虅, a Persian poet and adherent of the mystical tradition of Islam (Sufism). It is based on the biblical story of Joseph and the wife of the Egyptian courtier, Potiphar (she is known as Zulaykha in Muslim tradition).