B"H
Monday, Tevet 9, 5779 / December 17, 2018
This Shabbat we read Parshat Vayechi, which is the final Parsha in the Book of Genesis (Breishis). With the reading of Parshat Vayechi we finish the first Book of the Torah.
In this Parsha we read about Yaakov’s (Jacob) final seventeen years of his life which were spent in Egypt. Yaakov was now reunited with his son, Joseph and Joseph’s two sons, Menashe and Ephraim, who were born in Egypt before Yaakov’s arrival.
Yaakov’s arrival in Egypt, after two years of famine, brought great blessings to Egypt. The famine which was to last seven years, stopped In Yaakov’s merit, thus, lasting only two years.
In this Parsha we read how Yaakov, before his passing, makes his son, Joseph, swear that he will not bury him in Egypt. He urges Joseph to bring his body back to Canaan (Israel) and bury him in the family burial plot in Hebron.
We read about Yaakov’s blessings to his children before his passing. Yaakov also blesses Joseph’s two sons. They are the only grandchildren mentioned in the Parsha that Yaakov blessed. In fact, Yaakov tells them that they will be like his own two sons. As a result of this blessing, Menashe and Ephraim became two of the Twelve Tribes of Israel.
Q. The numerical value of, Vayechi, is 34. What is the significance of 34 to Yaakov and Joseph?
A. Parshat Vayechi is about the final seventeen years of Yaakov’s life, which he spent with Joseph. Joseph was seventeen when he was sold into slavery. Thus, Yaakov and Joseph were together for a total of 34 years; the first seventeen years of Joseph’s life and the last seventeen of Yaakov’s life.
Q. The end of the Parsha is about Yaakov’s passing and burial. When paying condolences to mourners sitting Shiva, we say "Hamakom Yenachem Etchem B'toch Sha’ar Aveilei Tzion V'yerushalayim" - Hamakom (which literally means, "the place" - a reference to G-d) should comfort you amongst the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem." The expression "Hamakom" ("the place") is very rarely used to refer to G-d. Why is it used in the context of expressing condolence to mourners?
A. The reason G-d is called "Hamakom" (the place") is because, as our sages say, "G-d is the place of the universe but the universe is not His place." Meaning that the existence of the universe depends on G-d, but His existence is not dependent on the universe.
When a person passes away, there is a void left. We comfort the mourners who have lost a loved one, that G-d ("Hamakom" the "Place") Who is the place of everything, will comfort you and fill the place, which was left empty. It alludes to the ultimate comfort with the coming of Moshiach, when the place left void will again be filled, with the resurrection of the dead. May it be speedily in our time. Amen.
HAVE A GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY SUCCESSFUL & WONDERFUL DAY