by Ahuva Balofsky (Moderator) | f 1, 2021 | Blog, The Portion of Ki Tisa
This section begins with God giving Moses the two tablets of stone upon which He has written with His own hand. After an extended break, the narrative returns to the people, awaiting Moses at the base of the mountain. They notice that Moses is late in returning, and...
by Ahuva Balofsky (Moderator) | f 20, 2015 | The Portion of Vayechi
Jacob now sets out to bless his own sons. He wishes to tell them what will befall them in the End of Days. To Reuben, Simeon and Levi, Jacob offers only chastisement for their earlier actions. Reuben, for interfering with Jacob’s marital bed (see Genesis...
by Ahuva Balofsky (Moderator) | f 20, 2015 | The Portion of Vayechi
Joseph weeps at Jacob’s passing, and orders his father’s body to be embalmed, a process which the Torah says takes forty days. He then asks Pharaoh’s leave to bury his father in Israel, as he had promised, and Pharaoh agrees. Joseph’s brothers attended the burial,...
by Ahuva Balofsky (Moderator) | f 20, 2015 | The Portion of Vayechi
After Jacob’s death, the brothers worry that Joseph will at long last be moved to avenge himself upon them. They therefore claim their father asked before he died that Joseph be merciful and forgive his brothers for what they did to him. They offer to serve him as...
by Ahuva Balofsky (Moderator) | f 20, 2015 | The Portion of Vayechi
After 17 years in Egypt, Jacob feels the end of his days approaching. Knowing he would die there and not return to his homeland, he makes Joseph swear to bury him in the Cave of Machpelah with his wife, parents and grandparents. The Israel Bible emphasizes...
