Parshas Vayechi

Zechus for all the soldiers on the front lines in Israel to stay safe and succeed! Zechus for the hostages to be returned safely and the wounded and grieving to recover from the terrible tragedy that occurred on Shemini Atzeres/Simchas Torah

Zechus Refuah Sheleima: Miriam bas Chana

Le'iluy Nishmas: Gittel a"h bas Shraga Meir Hakohen

Le'iluy Nishmas Tziporah Chana a"h bas Yaakov Avraham Eliyahu

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Another great Parsha with many ideas for your Parsha Party. REMINDER - THIS IS A SPRINGBOARD OF IDEAS. YOU CAN CHOOSE ONE IDEA OR A FEW. AND HAVE THE KIDS GUESS THE CONNECTIONS.

Parsha Overview (Feel free to skip straight to the Party below - simply click the arrow next to this text and the overview will disappear.)

Vayechi

[Interesting note: This Parsha starts off as a "סתומה"(closed parsha) meaning that there is no real space between Vayigash and Vayechi. Rashi and others discuss reasons for this.]

Yaakov lives for 17 years in Mitzrayim. He knows he will die soon and asks Yosef to swear to him that he will bury him in Eretz Yisrael with his fathers.

Later, Yosef gets a message that his father is very sick and he goes with his sons Menashe and Ephraim to Yaakov. As soon as Yaakov hears that Yosef is there, he strengthens himself and sits up in his honor as he is a king/ruler Yaakov tells Yosef how Hashem appeared to him and promised his children the land of Israel. He then tells him that Menashe and Ephraim will be official Shevatim like his own sons. He recounts that Rochel, Yosef’s mother died on the way from Padan Aram and he buried her there near Beis Lechem. (Rashi explains that he is telling Yosef the reason he did not bury her in Mearas Hamachpela is because Hashem wanted her in Beis Lechem for when the Jews go into Galus they will pass by and she will daven to Hashem on their behalf).

Yaakov asks Yosef who the two sons are as he cannot see in his old age. He brings them close and hugs and kisses them. He tells Yosef he had hoped to see Yosef’s face again and now he even merited to see not only Yosef but his children.

Yosef places his sons facing his father, Ephraim in front of Yaakovs left hand and Menashe in front of his right hand as he was the older one. However, Yaakov switches his hands and puts his right hand on the younger son, Ephraim and his left on Menashe.

Yaakov blesses Yosef and his sons with Hamalach Hagoel – The angel that protected me should watch over them and they should be called by my name and multiply like fish.

Yosef tries to switch his father’s hands to put the right on the bechor but Yaakov insists that this is the way it should be because even though Menashe will be great, the younger Ephraim will be greater.

Yaakov continues that whoever wants to bless their sons should say “Yesimcha Elokim Ke’Ephraim VeChiminashe..” (And this is how we begin the blessing for our children on Friday nights).

Yaakov tells Yosef he is going to die and that he is giving Yosef the land of Shechem for his own burial because Yosef will be busy arranging Yaakovs burial.

Yaakov calls for his sons to all gather and he wants to reveal to them the end of days. The shechina suddenly departs from him and he is unable to share. He then proceeds to bless and rebuke the Shevatim:

Reuven – the Bechor and first of his strength would have been of superior strength over the others but lost it because he switched his father’s bed.

Shimon and Levi are together – they need to be separated as they joined together to kill Shechem in their anger. Cursed is their anger. They will be scattered throughout Israel.

Yehuda – Will be acknowledged as leader. Compared to a lion. Kings, princes, and Mashiach will come from him. His land will be flowing with an abundance of wine. He will be red eyed from wine and white toothed from an abundance of milk.

Zevulun – will be a man at sea with ships engaging in business to support his brother Yissachar who will be learning Torah.

Yissachar – will be like a strong boned donkey bearing the yolk of Torah for all his brothers.

Dan – Will have judges and will avenge his people for those that start up. He will be like a snake that bites the horse’s heels.

Gad – will have troops of soldiers

Asher – his territory will produce rich foods such as olive trees

Naftali – swift like a dear and says beautiful words

Yosef – he was charming to all but his brothers fought with him, yet Hashem made him strong, the Even Yisrael (rock). He will be blessed with fertility surpassing the blessing Yaakov received from his parents.

Binyamin – compared to a wolf that will devour and plunder and divide the spoils.

Although some do not appear to be blessings, Yaakov blessed all twelve Shevatim.

Yaakov then tells his sons to bury him in Mearas Hamachpela with the other Avos and Imahos and his body expires. (Rashi says it does not say “Dies” because Yaakov Avinu’s {soul} never died, only his body.)

Yosef and all of Mitzrayim cry over the loss. They embalm Yaakov’s body with spices to keep it from rotting. Yosef gets permission from Paraoh to accompany his father to be buried. A whole procession of ministers from the land of Mitzrayim came along to accompany him and they made a large funeral for Yaakov. The brothers carry their father on to bury him in Mearas Hamachpela. On the way back the brothers are afraid that Yosef will now be angry at them and take revenge so they ask him for forgiveness.

Yosef tells them not to be afraid because everything was arranged by Hashem. He promises to take care of them in Mitzrayim.

Yosef later is dying and has the brothers promise to bring his bones up from Mitzrayim when Hashem brings them out. (Adapted partially from In a Nutshell by Chabad.org, The Pesukim and Rashi)

And now for the fun part

PARSHA PARTY

NEW THIS WEEK - SNACKS LISTED FIRST SO YOU CAN TRY AND GUESS TOO!

jelly fish	olive dip and chips	bite go
lip candy	aromatic treats (any treats with a good strong smell)	zillions
lady fingers	cashews	spicy hot tomales
rock candy	gummy hearts	teeth candies
lion soursticks	gummy bones	spicy doritos
grape flavor wowzers	guppies/candy fish	snake puzzle spray
​toothpaste candy	sour bites	charms sweet n sour pops
chocolate coins	fruit reels	powder /fizz candy
Torah oodles	salt water taffies	double bubble
snake/worms gummies	winkie money rolls	duplex cookies

THE PARSHA PARTY ANSWER LIST!

rock candy - Yosef is called the Even Yisrael lip candy - Yaakov gives Brachos and kisses his grandchildren lady fingers - representing the hands that were switched over their heads Jelly Fish - Menashe and Ephraim blessed to multiply like fish lion soursticks - Yehuda is compared to a lion grape flavor wowzers - Yehuda is blessed with wine toothpaste candy - Yehuda is blessed with white teeth from flowing milk chocolate coins - Zevulun is blessed with business Torah oodles - Yissachar is blessed with learning Torah snake/worms gummies - Dan is blessed that will be like a snake olive dip and chips - Asher is blessed with rich land and olive trees aromatic treats - Yosef has the Mitzriyim use good smelling spices to embalm Yaakov cashews - Cash from Zevuluns blessing of business gummy hearts - Yosef speaks to the hearts of his brothers that he forgives them and will take care of them gummy bones - Yissachar is blessed with a strong boned donkey guppies/candy fish - Menashe and Ephraim are blessed to multiply like fish sour bites - Dan is blessed as a snake that will bite the heels of horses fruit reels - A reel is a video replay, Yaakov replays to the Shevatim Reuven, Shimon, and Levi, how their actions were not good. winkie money rolls - Zevulun is blessed with business bite go - Dan is blessed as a snake that will bite the heels of horses zillions - so many people accompany Yaakov to be buried Spicy Hot tomales - the spices used to embalm Yaakovs body teeth candies - Yehuda is blessed with teeth white from milk snake puzzle spray - Dan is blessed as a snake charms sweet n sour pops - Yosef is blessed as charming powder /fizz candy - the powder and spices they used to embalm Yaakov's body double bubble - double trouble with Shimon and Levi together / Menashe and Ephraim duplex cookies - Shimon and Levi / Menashe and Ephraim

Salt water taffies - Everyone cries when Yaakov passes away

Spicy Doritos - Spices used to embalm Yaakov

CHAZAK CHAZAK VENISCHAZEK!!!

MY MOTHER MADE A CHOCOLATE CAKE....

Some of you may have grown up with this cute rhyme and others may be shaking your head in confusion but whichever the case we invite you to join our family minhag and bake a CHAZAK CHOCOLATE CAKE each time we complete a sefer! There is a great recipe in the Bais Yaakov Cookbook.

There are definitely more great ideas.... let's get some more please!!!

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Have a wonderful Shabbos!

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