Mark Call – Parsha “Vayechi” teaching from Shabbat Shalom Mesa

Posted by Mark Call | Jan 11, 2025 | Biblical Basics, Biblical History, Come Out of Her My People - Mark Call, Old Testament & New Testament, Personal Improvement, Shabba Shalom Mesa - Mark Call, Understanding Torah, Weekly Torah Portion Reading, Who Are We? | 0 |

The annual-cycle Torah reading week, parsha Vayechi (Genesis/Bereshiet chapter 47:28-End) not only concludes the story of the life and times of Yakov or Jacob, but of Yosef (Joseph) as well, and the Book of Genesis.

The Erev Shabbat reading:

Among other things, including Yakov’s blessings for his sons, and thus the tribes of Israel, this parsha includes the ‘adoption’ of Yosef’s two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh (or is it Manasseh and Ephraim???) into the “twelve” bribes of Israel. Where Yakov “crosses his hands,” during that blessing.

He asks a question, too. Which seems almost out of place. And yet, it’s also almost as easy for us to just gloss over it, and ignore the potential implications. But is should resonate with us now:

Vayechi: Whose are these? And Who’s are WE?