Parshat Vayechi Perek 48 Part One Yosef visits

Parshat Vayechi Perek 48 Part One

Yosef visits Yaakov Ø After hearing that Yaakov was ill, Yosef came to visit him in Goshen. l Brought Efraim and Menashe with him. Ø The importance of bikur cholim l l As we’ve learned, this is a very big mitzvah Yosef came right away, as soon as he heard the news.

MAKE A PREDICTION Directions: In the your assigned group, Make a prediction about the following question. WHY DID YOSEF BRING EFRAIM AND MENASHE WITH HIM TO GOSHEN TO VISIT YAAKOV?

Setting a good example Ø Yosef brought his sons with him on the visit to set a good example for them. l Wanted them to learn the importance of bikur cholim. Ø Yosef also planned for his two sons to receive a bracha from Yaakov before his death. l Yosef did not know when Yaakov would die, so he wanted to ‘seize the moment’.

The right hand Ø The right hand is considered to be the more “important” hand l That’s why we use our right hand to cover our eyes before saying Shema Ø Yosef put Menashe next to Yaakov’s right hand Efraim next to Yaakov’s left hand. l Wanted the elder son, Menashe, to be touched by Yaakov’s more “important” right hand.

Yaakov pulls a “switch” Ø Yaakov reversed his hands, so that Efraim received the right hand Menashe received the left hand LEFT RIGHT LEFT MENASHE EFRAIM

WHY DID YAAKOV MAKE THE SWITCH AND GIVE HIS RIGHT HAND TO EFRAIM?

Yaakov saw the future Ø Yaakov saw through ru’ach ha-kodesh (divine vision) that Efraim would have more righteous children than Menashe. l As a result he gave Efraim his right hand to show this. Ø We do the same, even today. l That’s why when parents bless their boys, Efraim’s name comes before Menashe.

Yaakov’s blessing Ø Yaakov blessed his grandchildren that they should “grow to be as many as the fish. ” l Why did he bless them to be like the fish? • Fish are large in number • Fish do not have a yezter hara. l This is why we do tashlich by a body of water that is filled with fish.