Dvar Torah
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וַיְחִי יַעֲקֹב בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם שְׁבַע עֶשְׂרֵה שָׁנָה וַיְהִי יְמֵי־יַעֲקֹב שְׁנֵי חַיָּיו שֶׁבַע שָׁנִים וְאַרְבָּעִים וּמְאַת שָׁנָה:
(בראשית מז:כח)
This week’s Parsha starts off by telling us that “Yaakov lived in the land of Egypt” (47:28). Rashi points out in wonderment that between most Parshiot there is a space, but between the Parshiot of Vayigash and Vayichei there is no space. Rashi explains that the reason for this is that once Yaakov passed away, the eyes and hearts of the Jewish people were closed because of the suffering of the enlargement.
The question is asked by many commentaries; “The enlargement did not start until after Yosef and all of his brothers died”. Furthermore, at this point in the Parsha, Yaakov was still alive so why does Rashi tell us that their eyes and hearts were already closed?
The answer is that when Yaakov and his children moved down to Egypt they came to the nicest part of the country, they were liked by the king and overall very comfortable. Because the children of Yaakov felt at home, they did not focus on the dream of returning to Israel, therefore, Rashi is pointing out that their minds and hearts were closed because they felt like they had nothing to strive for.
The lesson we learn from this is that even though we live in comfort, we still need to remember our dream of Eretz Yisrael (Israel). Let us remember this when we stand every day and Daven facing east towards our home, to be totally rebuilt soon, Israel.
Shabbat Shalom, stay warm and have an AMAZING winter break!
Parsha Questions
1) Why in a ספר תורה is there no break in the lines or the words between פרשת ויגש and ויחי?
(רש"י בראשית מז:כח)
2) How many years did יעקב live in מצרים? How old was יעקב when he was נפטר? (בראשית מז:כח)
3) Why did he ask יוסף to ensure his burial in ארץ ישראל, instead of the other sons?
(רש"י בראשית מז:כט)
4) Why did יעקב ask יוסף do to “חסד ואמת” with him? (רש"י בראשית מז:כט)
5) Why did יעקב not want to be buried in מצרים? (רש"י בראשית מז:כט)
6) Where did יעקב want to be buried? (בראשית מז:ל)
7) Explain: “מנשה and אפרים are to me like ראובן and שמעון”. (רש"י בראשית מח:ה)
8) Why did יעקב choose now to mention the death and burial of רחל to יוסף? (רש"י בראשית מח:ז)
9) Why did יוסף assume his father made a mistake when giving מנשה and אפרים their blessings?
(בראשית מח:יז)
10) Which great leader comes from מנשה and which from אפרים? (רש"י בראשית מח:יט)
11) What ברכה did יעקב give to מנשה and אפרים? (רש"י בראשית מח:כ)
12) For how many days did מצרים mourn the loss of יעקב? (בראשית נ:ג)
13) Why was an area in כנען called אבל מצרים? (בראשית נ:י-יא and see רש"י יא)
14) Which two sons of יעקב did not carry his coffin? Why not? (רש"י בראשית נ:יג)
15) After the burial of יעקב who was afraid of whom and why? (בראשית נ:טו and see רש"י)
16) What was done to show that there was no reason to fear? (בראשית נ:יט-כא)
17) Whom did יוסף “blame” for ending up in מצרים? Explain what he meant. (בראשית נ:יט-כא)
18) How many generations did יוסף see in his lifetime? Whom? To Whom? (בראשית נ:כג-כד)
19) Who made his brothers swear that their children would bury him in ארץ ישראל when
they left מצרים? (בראשית נ: כג-כד)
Virtual Classroom Check-in!
Questions about what we are learning online!
You can find the answers to these questions by clicking here.
1) What are the three main parts of the Amidah
2) How many times do we refer to Hashem as our Father in the Amidah?
3) Name three reasons that the 10th of Tevet is a fast day.
Torah Math
After learning that Yosef would fulfill Yaakov final request to be buried in Me’Arat Hamachpela, Yaakov bowed. Rashi explains that he was bowing to Hashem to thank him for the news that he would indeed be buried with his fathers in Eretz Yisrael.
If we look at the numeric value of the words we can actually see this! The Torah tells us וישתחו יעקב אל ראש המיטה. This means that Yaakov bowed. These words have the same value as the words מודים על בשֹורה טובה, that mean “A thanks upon hearing good news”!!!
WOW!!!! SO KOOL!!!!!!
TORAH TRIVIA!
Super Stumper Question:
This a question to ask others and discuss the answers.
Answer to last week’s question: The ONLY Mitzvah that can ONLY be fulfilled when sitting down is standing for a parent or elder.
Question of the week: What is the only part of Davening that is skipped when Davening with a Minyan???
Kollel Quiz
#1 Who Am I?
1. First of four damages.
2. I am not sure.
3. I respected the eleventh.
4. Don’t pair me with a donkey.
#2 Who Am I?
1. Yaakov in Mitzrayim.
2. Yosef before his sale.
3. I equal poor.
4. A year before Chuppa.
FOOD Section!
Can you guess what this recipe connects to this week’s Parsha?
DUE TO THE ONGOING HUNGER IT WAS HARD TO FIND ANYTHING TO MAKE THIS WEEK.
Gingerbread Mummy Cookies
Ingredients
Cookie Mix:
1/4 cup softened margarine
1/2 cup Sugar
1/2 cup Molasses
1/3 cup Water
3 1/4 cups Flour
1 tsp. Baking soda
1 tsp. Ginger
1/2 tsp. Cinnamon
1/2 tsp. Cloves
1/2 tsp. Salt
Glaze and decorations
1 tbsp. margarine
1/2 tsp. Vanilla
3 tbsp. Soy-Milk
Powdered Sugar
Instructions
In a bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add molasses and water. Mix well. Add remaining ingredients. Knead very well until forms a ball.
Roll out on lightly floured board. Cut into Gingerbread men shapes using Gingerbread man cutter. Place on cookie sheet.
Bake at 350 degrees F oven for 8-10 minutes. Allow cooling. Makes about 2 dozen mummies.
Glaze:
Mix all ingredients adding enough powdered sugar to make a smooth drizzling consistency. Place in pastry/decorating bag, or in a small plastic bag. Using tip, or cut a very small hole in the tip of the plastic bag, drizzle back and forth over cooled Gingerbread men to create your mummy.
Eyes can be created with decorations or a tube of decorator gel.
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