Parashat Vayechi

Both Jacob and Joseph understood the importance of imbuing their descendants with a commitment to the Land of Israel.

God's presence at Jacob's deathbed teaches us that our reactions to the situations in which we find ourselves determine our spiritual perceptions.

The Joseph story provides us with a domestic model for our national ability to move through reconciliation to solidarity.

On his deathbed, Jacob blesses his sons and asks them to bury him in Canaan.

Joseph reminds us that our perspective of reality is limited compared to the ultimate meaning that God perceives.

The descent into Egypt and Jacob's death left his family in an alien culture, forced to find a context for their traditions within themselves.