Parashat Va-y'hi (Genesis 47:28 - 50:26)

A weekly Torah exploration for families by Michael S. Raileanu, M.A.Ed.

A weekly Torah exploration for families by Michael S. Raileanu, M.A.Ed.

We have arrived at Parashat Ya-y'hi (Genesis 47:28 - 50:26), and with that we come to the end of Genesis. The story of the founding family is now complete and from here we will move on to being a people. Just before he dies, Jacob calls together all of his sons and gives them seperate blessings; some good, some not so good.

Jacob blesses Joseph's sons Ephraim and Menashe before he blesses his own sons. Is that important? Why or why not? What might a modern grandpa wish for his grandchildren? Are the wishes of the current generation of grandparents any different that those of previous generations? How?
When Jacob blessed Ephraim and Menashe he switched his hands and places his right hand on the younger and the left hand on the older. Why is that important? How is that like what has happened in this family in the past?
Not all of the blessings bestowed by Jacob are nice. Some of the blessings actually sound a little mean. In your mind, does a blessing have to be nice to be a "blessing?" If these aren't blessings to you, what are they? What are blessings to you? How would you give a blessing to someone?
When Jacob dies the brothers all go back to their homeland to bury their father, after they bury him they return to Egypt. Why did they go back to Egypt? Why not stay in Canaan? Since their brother was the Assistant Head of Egypt couldn't they have gotten whatever they wanted wherever they wanted? If you were one of the brothers would you have stayed in Canaan or gone back to Egypt? Why?
Who is your favorite character in Genesis? What is your favorite scene? If you were going to make a movie of Genesis, who would you cast as Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, Leah, Lavan, or Pharaoh? Go ahead try to pick one modern actor for each role!