Parasha Summary
Parashat Vayechi concludes Sefer Bereishit, focusing on Yaakov’s final days in Egypt. Before his death, Yaakov blesses Yosef’s sons, Ephraim and Menashe, elevating them to tribal status—unlike other grandchildren, who remain under their fathers’ tribes. Yaakov then delivers individualized blessings to each of his sons, prophetically addressing their unique roles and future destinies. He requests burial in Ma’arat HaMachpelah, fulfilled by Yosef and his brothers. The parasha ends with Yosef’s death, after he reassures his brothers of divine providence and makes them swear to bring his bones to Eretz Yisrael. The narrative underscores themes of continuity, divine promise, and the importance of burial in the ancestral land.
