Shabbat Table Topics – Parashat Vayechi/0/en

Shabbat Table Topics – Parashat Vayechi

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Blessing or Prophecy?

On his deathbed, Yaakov tells his children that he is about to tell them "אֵת אֲשֶׁר יִקְרָא אֶתְכֶם בְּאַחֲרִית הַיָּמִים".  Was Yaakov simply sharing with his offspring his hopes and aspirations for their future, or were his words prophetic in nature?  Does the term "אַחֲרִית הַיָּמִים" refer to events which are to transpire in his son's own lives, that which will affect their descendants upon their return to the Land of Israel, or what will happen in Messianic times? Did he speak to his children as individuals, or as leaders of future tribes?

• How do the different possibilities affect your reading of each individual blessing and of the unit as a whole?  For two examples, see
• If you were to impart a Last Will and Testament to those dear to you, what would it include?  Is your vision at all similar to Yaakov's message?

Another Case of Favoritism?

Before blessing each of his children, Yaakov meets individually with Yosef, and promises him a double portion of the land: "וַאֲנִי נָתַתִּי לְךָ שְׁכֶם אַחַד עַל אַחֶיךָ". He tells him that each of his children will take on tribal status.

Is Yaakov simply