Genesis · Weekly Torah portion
Parashat Vayechiוַיְחִי
Torah reading
Genesis 47:28-50:26
Haftarah
I Kings 2:1-12
What happens in Vayechi
Jacob's last days in Egypt close the book of Genesis. He blesses Joseph's sons Ephraim and Menashe — deliberately crossing his hands to favor the younger — and then blesses each of his twelve sons with words tailored to who they are. After Jacob's burial in the Cave of Machpelah, the brothers fear Joseph's revenge, but he reassures them: 'You intended me harm, but God intended it for good.' Joseph dies at 110, asking that his bones one day return to the promised land.
Big themes
- Blessings across generations
- Endings and legacy
- Breaking old patterns
If this is your bar or bat mitzvah portion
Jewish parents still bless their children with Jacob's words for Ephraim and Menashe — the first brothers in Genesis who don't fight. After a whole book of sibling rivalry, the blessing is peace. A d'var Torah can ask: how do we end cycles that started before us?
Learning to chant Vayechi?
Ready 13 builds a verse-by-verse practice plan for this exact portion — chanted reference audio, karaoke highlighting, trope games, and a countdown that keeps the big day on track.
Start Free Trial