"And Yaakov lived"(Genesis 47:28) Tevet 17, 5784/December 29, 2023 "In the beginning!" What a beautiful beginning to the book of Genesis! And from chaos and void "G-d said, 'Let there be light!'" What an auspicious beginning to all that there is! Light and life and beauty and truth! And yet the closing words of Genesis, which we read this week speak of darkness and death: "And Yosef died at the age of one hundred ten years, and they embalmed him and he was placed into the coffin in Egypt." (Genesis 50:26) Listen closely and you can hear the dull thud of the coffin closing, enveloping everything in darkness. What happened? This is not the first time that the bright light of creation was superseded by darkness. Generations earlier G-d despaired of the man he He created and brought the flood upon the earth. For forty days the heavens poured forth a torrent of rain, covering the sun and plunging the world in darkness. But in the aftermath the world began anew. Light and life returned and mankind filled the earth. And following man's ill-advised attempt to build a tower to heaven and G-d's confounding of man's common language, Avraham heeded the call of Hashem and began his journey to Canaan. Darkness falls, but light and life always returns. Certainly the sons of Israel find themselves in unfamiliar circumstances as the book of Genesis comes to a close. Their father Yaakov had died and is buried in the Machpelah. Yet they are compelled to return to Egypt, a foreign land. Even the word Egypt, in Hebrew, Mitzraim, means a narrow and confined space, much like the coffin Yosef is placed it. The claustrophobic feeling of the final verse of Genesis, the darkness symbolized by the death of Yosef and the placement of his body in a coffin is, of course, the prelude of Israel's descent into slavery, of which we will read as we begin the book of Exodus. Has the world slipped back into the darkness that preceded the primordial light? Have chaos and void returned to the world? Despite the world's relapse into darkness, much has changed since G-d first created man in His image. The uncontrollable envy and jealousy, anger and resentment which compelled Cain, humanity's first born son to murder his brother Abel, has been overcome at last by the sons of Israel, who struggled and managed to overcome their own murderous impulses and ultimately accessed the long latent gift of teshuvah - of repentance and redress of wrongs committed - leading to the long sought after reconciliation between brothers, bringing G-d's world to a higher level of goodness and justice than ever before achieved. Not only was the joyful reunion of the brothers a welcome step in the saga of the ever growing family of Avraham, it was a giant leap forward for all mankind. For without the ability to overcome our differences and embrace one another, humanity indeed is doomed to darkness. And while the trials and tribulations of Israel will only increase in Egypt, they will ultimately emerge into freedom, enter into an everlasting covenant with G-d and build for HaShem a sanctuary so that He may dwell among them. The future indeed is full of light! History has a way of repeating itself and no one is more aware of that than the current generation of the children of Israel. All who have been following the news in Israel know that for the duration of a year the brothers and sisters of Israel were at odds with one another, engaged in a great and divisive debate over the future of Israel's justice system. The proper attainment of justice, always a top concern for Israel, ever since the days of Avraham, is certainly a topic worth debating. Unfortunately the debate in Israel quickly devolved into bitter acrimony, plunging Israel into a perilous maelstrom threatening to tear the nation apart. The ever encroaching point of no return was avoided only by the pitiless darkness of October 7th. Suddenly Israel, in the face of a darkness not known since the founding of the modern state, was united as never before. How ironic and meaningful that the day of the ruthless massacre took place on Simchat Torah, the very day each year that Israel begins to read again from the book of Genesis: "In the beginning." And now, three months into a bitter war we are reading the final portion of Genesis. No less ironic and informative is the fact that this week's Torah reading which deals with the deaths of both Yaakov and Yosef, is called "Vayechi - he lived!" For death and darkness are but stages along the way to life and light! Israel's ultimate bulwark against darkness is, of course, the building of the Holy Temple. The desert Tabernacle, long gone, and the two Holy Temples which followed, also long gone, are not mere artifacts of a long distant past. In their day they were the light that swallowed the darkness and brought joy and life to the world. Our prophets knew that glory of the Holy Temple was not a thing of the past but the promise of the future. 2,600 years since they were first uttered, the words of Isaiah ring truer than ever: "And many peoples shall go, and they shall say, 'Come, let us go up to HaShem's mount, to the house of the G-d of Yaakov, and let Him teach us of His ways, and we will go in His paths,' for out of Zion shall the Torah come forth, and the word of HaShem from Jerusalem." (Isaiah 2:3) Brothers at each other's throats can become brothers in each other's arms in an instant. We must retain this faith in humanity. Israel is at war and too many of our sons are falling. And those not on the front lines are also intensely involved in the war effort in every way they can. The Temple Institute's exhibition doors have been shuttered these many weeks due to the situation. But our efforts at building the post war future spoken of by Isaiah and longed for by us all, remain as constant and devoted as ever. A future to believe in, to long for and to work for, is what brings us through the darkness, time and time again. Yosef knew this when he told his brothers "I am going to die; G-d will surely remember you and take you up out of this land to the land that He swore to Avraham, to Yitzchak, and to Yaakov." (Genesis 50:24) Isaiah knew this when he said, "My house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples," (Isaiah 56:7), and Haggai knew this when he promised in G-d's name, "And in this place I will grant peace, says HaShem of Hosts." (Haggai 2:9) G-d, through His prophets, can promise us the world. But it is up to us, G-d's children, to make His promise come true. In our own humble way, this is the mission of the Temple Institute. Join us! Together let's make it happen! . |
Tune in to this week's Temple Talk, as Yitzchak Reuven talks about The Gift of teshuvah, about the book of Genesis, a book of fraternal feuds, and how Israel was reunited in Egypt but trapped in exile! We conclude the book of Genesis this week with the reading of Vayechi, which describes the final words of Yaakov before he dies and is buried in the Machpelah Cave in Israel. His children have at last reconciled and reunited, but at what a price, as the first chill of their approaching enslavement can already be felt. |
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"For Your salvation, I hope, HaShem!" While blessing his twelve sons before his death Yaakov suddenly uttered these words of desperation. What thought passed before him that caused him to cry out so? Vayechi (Genesis 47:28 - 50:26)
Parashat Vayechi is read on Shabbat:
Tevet 18, 5784/December 30, 2023 |
Haftara For Shabbat Parashat Vayechi
I Kings 2:1-12: "And the days of David drew near that he should die; and he charged Solomon (Shlomo), his son, saying: 'I go the way of all the earth; you shall be strong, therefore, and show yourself a man; And keep the charge of HaShem your God to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, and His commandments, and His judgments, and His testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moshe, that you may prosper in all that you do, and wherever you turn...'" |
Become a Member of the Temple Institute! Introducing the Temple Institute's new membership card, in PDF format to conveniently download onto your phone. We are issuing the new membership cards to all new donors and will soon be sending the new card to our veteran donors, as well! |
The Court Of The Kohanim The length of the Priests' Court was eleven cubits and its width was one hundred and thirty five cubits - the width of the entire Court. Its level of sanctity was higher than that of the Court of Israel. Ritually pure Israelites were permitted entry into the Priests' Court only to perform specific Temple duties, such as those related to offerings they bring: the laying of hands, confession and slaughtering. (Source: Kelim: 1:9). |
Fear No Evil! HaShem protect and guard over our soldiers who are giving their all to destroy Hamas forever. "Though I walk through the valley of deathly darkness, I will fear no evil for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff - they comfort me. You set a table before me in the presence of my adversaries; You anointed my head with oil; my cup overflows. May only goodness and kindness pursue me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of HaShem for length of days." (Psalms 23:4-6) |
The Chambers On The Southern Sides Of The Court In the southeastern corner of the inner Court were located three chambers, (from east to west): The Chamber of Salt, in which the salt used for salting offerings and meal-offerings was stored; The Chamber of Hides in which the hides of the offerings were salted; and the Chamber of Washing, in which the inner organs of the burnt offerings were washed before being brought to the mizbeach (altar). |
"Let Us Go In The Light Of HaShem" "The word that Isaiah, son of Amotz, prophesied concerning Yehudah and Jerusalem. And it shall be at the end of the days, that the mountain of HaShem's house shall be firmly established at the top of the mountains, and it shall be raised above the hills, and all the nations shall stream to it. And many peoples shall go, and they shall say, 'Come, let us go up to HaShem's mount, to the house of the G-d of Yaakov..." |
The Tapuach & The Psachter The copper vessel, known as the psachter, was used to cart away the ashes that piled up on the altar. Its wheels enabled it to be maneuvered easily and efficiently around the altar and on the ramp. With the help of chains, two kohanim would wheel the cart which was full of ashes outside the Temple. |
The Babylonian Bubble Exile, longevity and the test of time.
A terrible scene flashed across our screens the other day. It was late afternoon on Friday as Shabbat was coming in, and suddenly, the sirens sounded. Jerusalem was under attack. Alarms blaring, worshippers in their Sabbath garb were forced to flee the Western Wall for the nearest place of refuge. Though under intensive Israeli attack, Hamas is still able to fire rockets at Jerusalem. |
A Soldier With His Head On Straight And A Proper Helmet To Protect It A new photo has appeared in recent days on social media showing (again) an Israeli soldier in Gaza wearing a combat helmet with the facade of the Holy Temple stenciled onto it. Remember well that Hamas named their murderous onslaught onto Israeli soil on October 7th, in which the murdered over 1,400 Israeli men, women and infants, raping, torturing, and mutilating along the way, and taking 240 hostages, all of which they captured on their G-Pro cameras, the "al Aqsa Flood," or in other words, the "Temple Mount Flood." |
Mikdash Monday - 7 Species (Part 2) “For Hashem your G-d brings you into a good land, a land of water courses, of fountains and depths that spring out of valleys and hills; A land of wheat and barley, of vines, figs, and pomegranates, a land of olive trees and honey;” (Deuteronomy 8:7-8) |
The Tapuach At the center of the mizbeach (altar) was a large pile of ash called the tapuach (literally, "apple" because of its round shape). Each morning the priests would clear the three wood piles of consumed coals and remove these coals to the ash pile using shovels and pitchforks. When the ash pile became too large it was removed. For this task a large vessel made of copper was used. This vessel, called the psachter, looked like a wheel-barrow. These ashes were brought to a pure location north of Jerusalem called "the Place of Burning." (According to the Rambam, the ashes were removed each day and taken outside of Jerusalem). |
"Bury Me With My Fathers... In The Cave That Is In The Field Of Machpelah" In this week's Torah reading, Vayechi, the final Torah reading of the book of Genesis, Yaakov, after blessing his twelve sons, instructs them to bury him in the Cave of Machpelah which his grandfather Avraham purchased to bury Sarah in: "All these are the twelve tribes of Israel, and this is what their father spoke to them and blessed them; each man, according to his blessing, he blessed them. And he commanded them and said to them, 'I will be brought in to my people; bury me with my fathers, in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite, in the cave that is in the field of Machpelah..." |
Shavua Tov From The Temple Mount! Very few photos to share this week, but over 500 Jews ascended and prayed on the Temple Mount this past week, bringing the wartime total to over 7,000. Every prayer for the safety of our soldiers, for total victory over Hamas and for the safe return of all our hostages is heard by HaShem in the holiest place on earth! |
Build a House for HaShem! "Be strong and have courage! Build a House for HaShem!" In this scene from a film soon to become an integral part of the Temple Institute's Jerusalem based Visitors Center experience, the prophet Samuel charges King David with the task of building the Holy Temple! |
The Glory of this Last House Shall be Greater than the First! "The Glory of this Last House Shall be Greater than the First!" In this scene from a film soon to become an integral part of the Temple Institute's Jerusalem based Visitors Center experience, Zerubavel from the house of David and Kohen Gadol (High Priest) Yehoshua consult with the prophet Haggai who instructs them to waste no time in rebuilding the Holy Temple! |
Red Heifers Arrive In Israel! On Thursday, September 15, 2022, 5 PM, 5 perfect, unblemished red heifers arrived in Israel from the USA. A modest ceremony was held at the unloading bay of the cargo terminal at Ben Gurion airport, where the new arrivals were greeted and speeches were made by the incredible people who have put their hearts and souls and means into making this historic/prophetic day become a reality. |
Biblical Red Heifer Could Bring Million Visitors To Samaria The Ancient Shiloh heritage site will soon host a Red Heifer research center. Hundreds of visitors flocked to Shiloh in Samaria’s Binyamin region on Thursday to welcome a biblically pure red heifer. The 22-month-old cow, which was brought to Israel from the United States, found a new home at the Ancient Shiloh heritage site, where the biblical Tabernacle once stood. |
Blessings from the holy city of Jerusalem!
Yitzchak Reuven
The Temple Institute |
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