Vayechi - 4th Portion

Join me as we learn for today the for Wednesday parishes chapter 49. Yesterday we learned about where Jacob blessed Yoseph's children. He switched the hands. He put the right hand on Ephraim which was the younger one, the left hand on Manasha which is the older were one. And today we learn as Yakov now gathers his children around and gives him his last will and testament the blessing before he passes verse 1. And Jacob called his children his sons and he said to them, "Assemble yourselves and I will tell you that will befall you at the end of days." Rashim, what does it mean that he was going to tell them of what was going to happen at the end of days? And as of tells us verse one to reveal to the Jewish people the end of days of when the exile were exiles will be complete the coming of Msiach. However, the divine presence has left him and therefore he began to say other things that have nothing to do with the end of days. This is actually a reason, one of the reasons why paras is like a run-on from parasash and there is no separation between the two like there are in the other parases because this is when Jacob's divine presence left him and he was not able to tell them about when Mashiach will come. It's discussed that the Reb says what was Yakov's purpose of telling them if by telling them that it's only going to come in a longer time. They might be dissuaded and give up hope and say listen it's not going to come anyways for a long time. Why should we bother? But if the rebbble learns from here what Jacob was teaching every single Jew is that every Jew should have that desire of legalates to reveal the coming of Mashiach that every Jew should have within himself the utmost desire to bring about to reveal that coming of Mashiach even though he may think well it's so long that Mashiach hasn't come but every moment we can reveal it and bring it before its time of when it's intended to come. Verse two, he cuffed, "Gather together and listen to sons of Jacob and listen to Israel, your father." Verse three, you're my firstborn, my strength and my first va vitality, my first strength. [snorts] The ace the yes or foremost in rank and foremost in power. Over here Rashi explains what does it mean his his first power his first strength. Rashi explains as follows verse one. This you were born from the first drop of my for until then Jacob has never had an unintentional emission. The word in this case means strength and we find this in other verses as well in other places where it says I secured my power for myself because of my great might and those who are of no strength. Again in other places where we find the word to mean strength [snorts] foremost in raising meaning you were fitting to be greater than your brothers by receiving the kuna by receiving the priesthood. And therefore the word over here sees comes from the word capim like the word from the same root of lifting their hands referring to the priestly blessings that the cohen would give. Yeser foremost in power this is a majesty royal power [snorts] as it says and that who will give strength the word to the king. What caused that you should we that you should lose all these things? And that's the next verse. Verse four. You're impetuous like water. You will not be foremost because you mounted your father's bed. Then you profained resided the divine presence that resided over my bed. What was Yakov referring to? And this is referring to the time when he moved Bill's bed out of Yakov's tent and he moved Leia's bed there instead. And Rashi is refer Rashi explains what happened and what was so wrong with it. And he explains as follows. [snorts] Waterlike impet impetuously, the impetuous impetuousity and haste which you were quick to display your anger to show your anger just like water runs along very quickly. So too you were quick to show your anger. Rashi explain. So Rashi explains what does it mean? You will not be foremost. Meaning you are not going to get all those privileges that would have been yours. And what was this impetuity that you did which you have showed? And then he continues for you mounted your father's bed. Then you were then profane the name of who he ascended. meaning that that name of God which is on my bed which is the divine presence that because the divine presence would regularly be on my bed and that's what you profained and that's what you desecrated and because of that in your haste and in your anger that's why you lost out on those special privileges of being the priesthood and the kingdom. Rashi explains where does the word uh pas and what does that mean? The word is over here a noun impetuity and therefore according to its accent you will find the cancellation is [snorts] with a and all its vowels are a mean past tense then it would be half would be a and half would be a as we find this in other places as well. What does the word mean? That means a bed conotes to something which is a lying object. This is because it is usually spread. One spreads it with felt covers and sheets. We have this in other places as well. If you'll go up on that bed uh if you a bed spread out for me or remember you when you are on my couch using the word is somebody who that lies down. [snorts] That's what he said to Ru. Now he addresses and together partners in crime brothers in crime their weapons is a craft. Whenever they went, weapons of violence. Weapons [snorts] is a craft stolen from Asov. And wherever they went, weapons of violence talking as it's a craft of stolen comes from the word stolen. Is was weapons of violence. Rashi explains this. Why does he address this to Shimy as one? So he says as follows because they were brothers when it came to this situation. of the they weren't the same advice when it came to not only when it came to to be a afterm took away their sister they were the ones that attacked then again later on when it came to as it says in the verse we learned previously in parv one man said to his brother let's go now and kill him and though the doesn't say who is it if you may say and did not agree with killing them. Ruven said put him in the pit and said let's sell him. So [snorts] then you're going to say maybe it was the children of the servants but they did not hate Yseph because Yseph was the one that actually fratonized with them and was friends with them as it says that he got along with them and he was good friends. So it can't be that they would want to kill him. No. So also maybe you're going to say it's would not speak in front of their older brothers. Therefore, we must say that who are the only people that were older and had the right to speak but were not ones that were interested in selling him or putting him in the pit. What do we know that [snorts] that their father calls them brothers that they were brothers in the same opinion partners in crime that they wanted to go and kill Yseph? What does this mean? Sashi explains this type of behavior of trying to kill people is stolen. It's not yours. It doesn't belong to you. It's not a Jewish way of looking at it. This is actually from the blessings that were given to that he will live on a sword. This is his craft and you stole it from him. What does the word say? Tells us this means weapons the sword the spear in Greek means that's where the word comes from. So too this is explained in means a place where they lived in the land that they live. They acted in a way of killing which was killing the people of like we find. This is the way the explains it verse six. Let my soul not enter their conspiracy and let my honor have no part in their assembly. For in their anger they killed men and they wanted to maim an ox. What was Rashi referring to over here? As we're going to see, this is also a prophecy for the future. [snorts] Rashi says he's referring something in the future. This is we're going to find in the book of numbers. The leader of the tribe of Shim who then had an affair with a Midionite woman. When the group of Shim when the tribe of Shim gathered together to bring the Midionite woman before Moshe and they told Moshe, "Is this woman prohibited? Are we allowed to have a be with her or not? You're going to say you're not allowed to the daughter of who gave you permission to marry the Dory of Isra daughter of Isra. She was also a Midionite woman." Therefore, Yakov says, Do not mention my name in this event. As we find as it says in the verse 14 there in the book of numbers the son of who is a leader of the tribe of Shim and it does not say the son of Jacob Yakov to keep to what Yakov said my name should not be mentioned in their plotum in their assembly I will have no part. What is their assembly? This was also referring to something in the future. is going to try to make a coup who was from the tribe of Ley and this whole group community on tell them who gives you the right to be higher than everybody else do not mention my honor do not mention my name I don't want to associate with them as it says the son of but it does not say the son of Jacob When it comes in the book of chronicles when it tells us about the family of Korak where they were the ones that were standing on the podium that they were the ones standing there to sing by the holy temple does say Yakov's name only in a time of arguments and desecration of God's name did he want that his name not be mentioned the word is a is a feminine terminology is a male terminology as masculine. Therefore, you have to explain the verse telling us is talking in a respectful way and he's saying you my honor do not be with them. Meaning that though he is talking in a direct way [snorts] like we find do not be together with them buried. So we see when a person speaking directly to an individual using this type of terminology because with men because they killed men with anger. Who is he referring to? This is and the people of the he killed them because of the action of They were only considered one that all the people of were just compared to one individual in front of the same thing is also but he says you're going to kill mid like one man meaning that they're so strong and they were able to wipe them out so easily that they were considered as one person. So too we find it when it talks about the uh annihilation of the people of Egypt and they were drowned into the water. And it only also use a singular term. This is the according to simple interpretation. Many people you can call each one on his own. Meaning that they with their anger they killed any person that they got angry at. So we find us in other places. where a lion who g usually uh kills whatever he wants for his what he needs to eat. So too is compared to a king who gets used to uh wiping out the different nations. And this is referred to in Hezekiah where it talks about the behavior of the Jewish people versus the nations of the world. [snorts] And they wanted to maim an ax. They wanted to kill and destroy is called ax. Later on we see in the blessing of motion the book of deuteronomy he calls them comes from the word to mame to get rid of they will get rid of their horses. Verse seven, cursed be their age, for it is fierce. The and their fury for it is harsh. I will separate them amongst the among amongst the tribes of Jacob Israel and I will scatter them amongst the Jewish people. Rashi, what does it mean? Over here we learn something that even while Jacob is rebuking them he did not curse them. He cursed their anger. That means he never cursed the individual he cursed what they did wrong. This is what said that even when Jacob that bum was talking about a prophecy that even when he mentions something that they did wrong he doesn't curse them. the c the Jewish people cannot be cursed being that both of them were part of the same idea and same advice. What does it mean? I will separate them one from the other will not be counted amongst the rest of the tribes. So they are separate from who was counted amongst the rest of the tribes. Another explanation is There are the most poor people amongst the Jewish people were the scribes and the teachers that they would usually go from place to place finding jobs and where did they come from that they would spread out and they would have to go from place to place. So the teachers and the scribes would come from the tribe of Shim that they weren't settled in one place to be able to find their uh source of sustenance the as well as the tribe of Ley. this tribe of Ley that they were a important tribe of great scholars. They wouldn't have to go around like poor people but they would have to go to all the Jewish people and get from their warehouses to be able to collect the tithing and the special uh parts that they would have to give donations and gifts they would have to give to the co and the ley. So it gave them their fact that they had to be spread out in a more respectful and honorable way. But at the very same time they had to go around collecting the tithing and the donations that had to be given to the Jewish people to the ley the tribe of Ley which were the Coen and Levites. Verse eight Yehuda. Now he comes to Yehuda after he had rebuked the first three tribes. Yehuda was concerned that now Jacob is going to rebuke him for what happened with the story of Tamar. Therefore, he starts and says Yehuda you and therefore he calls him back and says Yehuda don't run away you are getting a blessing however your brothers will praise you your hand unto the neck of your enemies your father's sons will bow down to you what was he referring to over here explains Why does he begin by saying because he rebuked and and told off the first three tribes beanim with different rebuke. So therefore started backing out of the room. He didn't want to get uh blamed or yelled at for the story of him with therefore calls him back with words of appeasement and says you're not like the rest of them your enemies will be turning their necks to run from you in the time of as it says that my enemies turned their back running on me the sons of your father Shah Because since the children of Jacob had many other wives, Jacob had other wives. Therefore, saying he didn't say the sons of your daughter of my of your mothers said as well that the said and they will bow to you the sons of your mother. But because of you hear the word multiple mothers, he said the sons of your father because that would refer to all the 12 tribes. Verse n gur arate yehuda. Yehuda is a young cubin Alisa, a lion. You raise yourself, my son above. Crouch, you will crouch to Allah like a you you our people crouch and lie like a lie down like a lion and like a fearsome lion. No one would dear rouse. What's he referring to? Rashi. Verse 9. Gur al David. He was referring to David. He was giving Yakov was saying the prophecy about King David. uh at first he's compared to Agur a young cub because even while King Saul was around David King David was already leading the Jewish people even while Shaw was the king amongst the Jewish people you were taking and helping the Jewish people but later on he's confer he's referred to an ally with the Jewish people anointed King David as a king. That's why the explains and describes this case as that he will be a ruler and over as a king in the beginning and then later on he will ultimately be the king as well. What does it mean? [snorts] So Rashi explains in the beginning Jacob accused Yehuda that he was the one that killed Yseph and therefore why did he kill Yseph? Because Yoseph Yehuda may have been concerned that Yseph will take the kingdom from him. This that I accused you that you were the one that Yseph that killed Yseph said that wild animal. This was Yehuda that was compared to a lion. Alisa the words you raised yourself my son. You removed yourself from that accusation and you said what benefit would we get the same as well when it came to the time that you were about to kill that you agre that you acknowledged and you admit and you said she is correct. Therefore, you have that ability that in the time that they will have to crouch and lie down like a lion, meaning that they will be able to be there in peace through the waging of the war of King David. You will have that peace in the time of King Solomon. As it says that the book of kings explains that during the time of Solomon, there was so much peace that every person settled in the land of Jerusalem, each person under his vineyard. Verse 10. The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor lawgivers from among his descendants. Till that time, the coming of Sheila, which is refers to the coming of Mashiach, the law before whom the nations will assemble. As we see in Rashi explains what this means. From the time that the king of Judea will be a king from David from David and onwards, these will be the leaders of the tribes, leaders of the exile in the Babylonian time that they would rule the people with the stick that they were appointed by the king that they would then rule the Jewish people. They will be also from the tribe of Judea. What does the word from mean? The lawgivers from amongst from among his descendants. So he refers to talid. These are the students the great scholars that are learning even in the time of exile. The leaders of the Jewish people that were in the land of Israel after the destruction of the temple. They will also be from the tribe of Judah Shile until Sheila will come which refers to Malik Mashiach. The king Mashiach is called Chile. And if you look at the words the word refers to as an acronym of the word made up of the word that the kingdom will be his. So to the uncle explains and the med says means shy low a gift to him meaning that the nations of the world will give them a gift as it says and because they're afraid of the king they will bring him gifts. He explains the nations of the world will gather around under the leadership and jurisdiction of the king Mashiach. And why does this mean? How do we see this from the word the is one of the root words of this word? And therefore, so therefore when the word comes out missing a sometimes it drops the y to be able to tell you what the root word is as well. Oius, we have many root words in the word of that also have this type of terminology that sometimes a letter is dropped off to be able to give you the idea of what the root word is. This is called in Hebrew grammar. The main part of it falls like the nun of the word will become or the of the word will come as alith in the word which then will come to or will come to the word or you'll have the nun instead of the alif. And so too gives another few examples. So too in this case where the word the gathering of nations as it says to him the nations will come to ask we have a similar thing that it says later on in the book of proverbs giving other words that the word means together. where the uh nations will come or a person's face gathered together because they're all they have um creases in their face. But Talmud, we also find this in the Talmud as well that the word comes to mean gathered. We find this in the track of which talks about the people would gather together and the students would gather around them. Rashi also notes to the fact technically speaking the word could have been which both of them also you find when the yud gets changed around verse 11 will your pro your portion in the promised land will be a place that one will tie a donkey to a vine His donkey fell to a single vine branch. He will launder his clothes and wine and his cloak in blood colored juice of grapes. Rashi [snorts] 11 right over here Jacob is referring to the land that Yehuda will get when he comes into the land of Israel. I'll let it he was referring and referencing to the land of Yehuda that they'll have so much wine and be blessed with wine like a wellspring that a person will tie his vine to his young dunkey and he will be pulling the grapes from another that's how much wine there'll be so many grapes that they'll need a dunkey for every single vine and from one branch you are going to need one dunkey for each branch. What does the word mean? A long vine. Meaning that it's going to be so much vines and so many grapes filled with wine will be filled with wine. It doesn't mean literally. This is a metaphor that he's going to wash his clothing. This is all referring to the fact. This is telling me how much wine there will be there as if he'll be able to wash his clothes in wine. This is from the word garment. It's a type of garment. There is no other similar word used like this in the verse comes from the word to make to tie. We find this also as well that he would uplift the poor. So too and we talk about the son of his donkey referring to the in these cases are only there to be able to enhance the word explains that this is referring to mashiach that the verse of is referring to mashiach that the vine refers to the Jewish people who are compared to wine donkey that's the king of mashiach is going to come on a donkey so the glor long vine. It refers to the Jewish people who are compared to a long vine. The son of the donkey the Jewish people will build the holy temple as it's discussed in the book of the Aramaic translation goes on to explain and explains it in another way. And he also gives another explanation that it could be and the vine that's referring to the righteous the donkey of the those that learn and keep the Torah going the great Torah scholars al because they are the ones who bring the words of God to the people and they are the ones that are teaching the Torah from the words of Msiah as well. Next Rashi. So Rashi continues. So the tarum explains what does it mean that he's washing in clothes is wine the clothing of the king Mashiach are going to be beautiful that they're going to be the color of purple which is like the color of wine that it's that its color is the same as wine and the coloring is the same terminology as that the woman puts it on and this way seduces the male to be able to look at him. Look at her. So too the rabbis explain the word in the Talmud as to turn away as to go astray from the word that the wine causes a person to go astray and not to walk on a right path. And the try we see this in the track of when it talks about wine. When you say that it may not keep satiate the individual or get him drunk, but it causes him that when he's drunk, it causes him to veer off the right path. Verse 12 in the future. And this, as we mentioned before the previous verse, as the tarum explains, is talking about building the temple. The righteous will surround his dunkey and those that teach Torah will study with him. His garments will be dyed fine purple clothes as we just explained in Rashi before and your the eyes of your typical descendant will be flushed from drinking wine and his teeth white for milk. Rashi explains what does this mean? >> [snorts] >> meaning red. talking about the people that drink a lot of wine their eyes become red from milk from drinking so much milk because in his land it's going to be very good pasture for the people that are shephering the the sheep and from them they're going to be able to have it's going to be dripping so much milk from them. This is what the simple interpretation of the verse is. that the redness of eyes is going to be from lots of drinking wine and the whiteness of their teeth from a lots of milk and according to the explanation has another interpretation in this case means mountains for a distance another explanation gives it's going to be a place of wellsp springs and washing of the vineyards It's a Aramaic terminology of av which is a vineyard or a place where there is beautiful grapes is called so to we find in the track of can also mean a valley from the word that between the two valleys. So over here the taragum calls it mountains and valleys while the simple interpretation one can explain that because of drinking too much wine and having lots of milk because of what's going to be in their eventual property in the land of verse 13 now moves on to the next son the tribe of will dwell by the seashores and harbor will be with uh all the boats that will be and the and its border will reach on the seashore will be his land the property when he's going to get the land the word means like on the border and he will always be there by the harbor by where all the boats come in the place where the boats bring in all the business all the different produce and they will be very involved in business and this way you'll be very wealthy is going to be busy in business and he's going to bring food for the tribe of and they're going to be learning Torah studying Torah and then we won't have to worry about making a living that's what Moshe says at the end of the book of Deuteronomy when he blesses the tribes should rejoice while he goes out in business While is sitting and studying Torah goes out to do business and is able to sit peacefully and calmly and learn Torah all the time because he knows that Zulen is going to take care of all of his physical needs at the end of his border will be next to the city of the word means sofa the end as we find as it says by the building of the ark building of the tabernacle. It uses the terminology at the end of the tabernacle. Verse 14 is going to be like a strong bone donkey who rests between the towns. What does this mean? Rashi explains like a strong dunkey has very strong bones. It's going to study Torah and be understand and take the weight of the Torah and involve itself in Torah like a strong donkey that carries a lot of heavy weights like a donkey that goes day and night from city to city does not go back to rest at home when it wants to rest. It rests between the boundaries between the cities of where it's going on the side of the road is on the outside of the road roads or the cities that he brings the big the bundles of business or merchandise that he's going from place to place was that the was compared to this dunkey who travels between different cities bringing merchandise. So too, the people of the tribe of Yeshar are compared to the great scholars who will study Torah day and night without taking a break. When they study and the only time they take a break is only when in between like dozing off in between stops. [snorts] Verse 15. It will choose a place that is good and the land that is pleasant. It will bend its shoulder like a lab and do its duty and like a laborer. It will bend its shoulder and like and making it a servant tribute. What does this mean? Rashi explains this rest. He was talking about the eventual land that will get will be blessed and good lights. He paid us to give great fruit, beautiful fruit, the oil of that means he is going to bend his shoulder to be able to accept upon himself the yoke of Torah. Being that he saw that his land will be blessed with wonderful fruit, he'll be able to study Torah without any worry and it will be for all the Jewish people to give them the laws and the teachings of Torah. They will be the ones responsible to make the leap year. It says later on in the book of chronicles that from the people of they will know what to do, what times to do to know what the Jewish people should do amongst them. They're going to be as it says there later on amongst the leaders of would be the leaders of the Jewish people that all the heads of the Sanhedrin will come from the tribe of and they will listen to them. They will follow their instructions and they will be there. The needs of the people will be on their shoulders to be able to tell them what to do. He lowers himself. Like we use find the terminology. The word vet means lowers down to here or lowers down to do to pick up his load. However, gives it a different explanation here says as follows that this is to be able to tolerate the wars of the Jewish people and to be able to conquer different cities that they were sitting at the border and therefore the enemy will be uh conquered under them. like the nations of the world to be able to take taxes to be those people that you govern. They have to pay you taxes. Verse 16, the Dun will avenge its people like the tribes of Israel will unite. This is referring to a Dun will avenge the people as there will be the most distinguished of the tribes of the Jewish people. Rashi 16. [snorts] He's going to take revenge for the Jewish people from the referring to the time of Shimshin that God judges his nation. All the Jewish people will be united together with him as one. But he will take revenge and he will be the one to judge for the Jewish people. Who is this referring to is referring to he gave the prophecy others explain meaning they'll be the one of the important tribes and this is David this is David which comes from the tribe of Yehuda and saying that the revenge that chim will take on theim this will be as great as David will take revenge on Goliath later on as Verse 17. He let done be like a snake on the road. A viper on and on a viper on the path or like a viper on the path. Let done be like a snake on the road and a viper on the path biting the horse's heel so that the rider falls backwards. This refers to a snake. The reason why it's called a snake because the way it puts a hiss into the uh in the person that it lets out that noise before it's going to sting or bite a person that the snake bites and stings the individual and because of that it hits itself back and that's called the word like slings back. This is the way a snake works. meaning that it bites the bottom of the horse. Because of that, it falls, knocks over its driver and kills it. And he compares it to a snake who bites the bottom of a horse, the heels of a horse, and the rider falls off even without killing the rider without even touching it. This is what happened by was on the bottom of the home and he smashed the two pillars of the home. The home came whole crashing down killing everybody vagalog and all those people that were on the roof were killed just like a snake that bites the the horse and the rider on top comes off and gets killed. Explains it's a type of snake. It's a viper that when one gets stung or bitten by it, there's no way for one to get healed from it. This has a very strong poison. It's called because whatever it touches, it destroys it completely. Like this snake that kills everything and there's no healing for it. This is the way that it hides between the rocks and attacks the person, ambushes them and can kill the individual. I hope for your go salvation oh god of here is referring to done and talking about the time of explains verse 18 he prophesies that the are eventually going to poke out his eyes and is going to pray to God please remember me give me my strength this time I should be able to overcome come to him though I may have done something wrong but I should be able to overcome them and eradicate them for the Jewish people. This concludes the fourth Torah reading of