Vayechi - ויחי : "And he lived"
Torah : Genesis 47:28-50:26
Haftarah : 1 Kings 2:1-12
Gospel : Matthew 26-28

Thought for the Week:

"By faith Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph." (Hebrews 11:21)

Commentary:

He blessed them that day, saying, "By you Israel will pronounce blessing, saying, 'May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh!'" Thus he put Ephraim before Manasseh. (Genesis 48:20)

Jacob laid his hands on Ephraim and Manasseh and bestowed a blessing upon them. He declared that the children of Israel would henceforth bless their own children, saying, "May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh!" In Sabbath-keeping families, on Friday nights, while the family is gathering around the Sabbath table, fathers lay their hands on their children and bless them. To their s...