Parsha Q&A - Vayechi « Ohr Somayach

Parshas Vayechi

For the week ending 12 Teves 5758; 9 & 10 January 1998

Contents:

Parsha Questions

Bonus Question

I Did Not Know That!

Parsha Questions

Answers | Contents

Why is kindness towards the dead called "chesed shel emes" - kindness of truth?
Give three reasons why Yaakov didn't want to be buried in Egypt.
What do we learn from Yaakov bowing toward the head of his bed?
"When I was coming from Padan, Rachel died on me...I buried her there on the way to Efrat...." Why did Yaakov say all this to Yosef?
Initially, why was Yaakov unable to bless Ephraim and Menashe?
What burial ground did Yaakov give to Yosef?
How did the neighboring Canaanites react when Shimon and Levi killed the people of Shechem, and how did Yaakov react to their reaction?
What did Yaakov want to tell his sons but was unable to?
What privileges did Reuven forfeit as a result of his rash actions?
What congregation from Yaakov's offspring did Yaakov not want to be associated with?
What did Yehuda do after he heard Yaakov rebuke Reuven, Shimon and Levi? Why?
Who is "Shilo?"
Why is Yissachar compared to a "strong-boned donkey?"
What is a "shefifon?"
With what resource did both Yaakov and Moshe bless Asher?
To whom was Yaakov referring in Yosef's blessing when he said "They embittered him..."?
Which descendants of Binyamin "will divide the spoils in the evening (49:27)"?
From whom did Yaakov buy his burial place?
What oath did Yosef make to Pharaoh?
Which two sons of Yaakov did not carry his coffin? Why?

Answer Contents	Yaakov made Yosef swear that he would not bury him in Egypt. Why was this oath necessary? Didn't Yaakov trust Yosef to do as he requested?

The fruits from Yissachar's land were so huge that all the other nations that bought them were astonished. The Jews told them, "Do you wonder about these fruits? If you saw their owners, who study Torah day and night, you would understand that Hashem gave them tremendous fruits in proportion to the tremendous effort they invest in Torah!" As a result, many people realized the power and truth of Torah and converted to Judaism.

(Bereishis Rabbah)

Answers to this Week's Questions

Questions | Contents

All references are to the verses and Rashi's commentary, unless otherwise stated

47:29 - Because the giver expects no reward from the recipient.
47:29 - a) Egypt's ground was to be plagued with lice; b) At the time of the resurrection, those buried outside of Israel will suffer; c) so the Egyptians wouldn't make him into an idol.
47:31 - The Divine Presence is manifest above the head of a sick person.
48:7 - Yaakov thought Yosef harbored resentment since Yaakov had not buried Yosef's mother, Rachel, in the Ma'aras HaMachpela.
48:8 - The Shechina departed from him.
48:22 - Shechem.
48:22 - They gathered against Yaakov to attack him. Yaakov defended himself with sword and bow.
49:1 - When Mashiach was going to arrive.
49:3 - Priesthood and Kingship.
49:6 - Korach and his congregation.
49:8 - He drew back. He was afraid that Yaakov would rebuke him for the incident with Tamar.
49:10 - Mashiach.
49:14 - Just as a donkey bears a heavy burden, so the tribe of Yissachar bears the yoke of Torah.
49:17 - A type of snake.
49:20 - Oil-rich land.
49:23 - Yosef's brothers, Potifar and his wife.
49:27 - Mordechai and Esther.
50:5 - From Esav.
50:6 - Yosef swore not to reveal Pharaoh's ignorance of the Hebrew language.
50:13 - Levi, because he would carry the aron (holy ark). Yosef, because he was a king.

Question Contents	This oath was not to imply a lack of trust in Yosef. Rather, Yaakov assessed the political problem that would arise when Yosef asked permission to bury Yaakov outside Egypt. Pharaoh might take it as an insult to the land that had given such generous hospitality to Yaakov and his family, and therefore not allow Yosef to leave. Only if Yosef were to take a solemn oath would Pharaoh deem it improper to stand in the way. Indeed, when Pharaoh granted permission to Yosef (50:6) he emphasized that he was doing so only because Yosef had sworn to do so. (Ramban)

Question
Contents

This oath was not to imply a lack of trust in Yosef. Rather, Yaakov assessed the political problem that would arise when Yosef asked permission to bury Yaakov outside Egypt. Pharaoh might take it as an insult to the land that had given such generous hospitality to Yaakov and his family, and therefore not allow Yosef to leave. Only if Yosef were to take a solemn oath would Pharaoh deem it improper to stand in the way. Indeed, when Pharaoh granted permission to Yosef (50:6) he emphasized that he was doing so only because Yosef had sworn to do so.

(Ramban)

Written and Compiled by Rabbi Eliyahu Kane & Rabbi Reuven Subar
General Editor: Rabbi Moshe Newman
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Parsha Q&A - Vayechi

Parshas Vayechi

Parsha Questions

I Did Not Know That!

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