SEDRA : Vayechi : Hertz Chumash p. 180 Genesis Chap. 47 v. 28

SYNOPSIS:

Jacob had reached the age of 147 years. Feeling that the end of his life was approaching, Jacob sent for Joseph and made him swear that he would not bury him in Egypt but in the land of Canaan, in the resting place of his fathers. Later Jacob became very ill and Joseph went to visit him with his two sons, Manesseh and Ephraim. The dying patriarch blessed Joseph and his sons and proclaimed Manesseh and Ephraim as his own. By placing his right hand on Ephraim's head, in spite of Joseph's protests, Jacob gave him precedence over his older brother. He foretold that, though both would enjoy prosperity, Ephraim's prowess would be the greater and ended by promising Joseph a portion more than his brothers. Jacob then called all his other sons to his beside and, in prophetic words, summed up their personal qualities and predicted their future destinies. After enjoining his sons once again to bury him in the cave of Machpelah where Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebeccah and Leah had been buried, Jacob died. Joseph ordered that the body be embalmed and mourning was observed for seventy days. Then, with Pharaoh's permission, Joseph and all his brethren together with the elders of Israel and Egypt escourted a military entourage, carried Jacob's body with great solemnity into Canaan to bury him in Ma'arat Hamachpelah - the ancestral grave.

On their return to Egypt, Joseph's brothers, afraid that Joseph would avenge himself on them, sought his pardon for their past misdeeds. This, they said, was in accordance with the express wish of their father on his death bed, but Joseph assured them that he no longer bore any grudge against them. Joseph survived his father for fifty four years. Before he died at the age of one hundred and ten years, Joseph made the members of his family swear an oath to carry his remains with them when G-d brought them back to the Promised Land and so his body was embalmed and placed in a coffin.

HAPHTORAH HERTZ CHUMASH p. 191 1 Kings Chapter 2 Verses 1 - 12

The Testament of Jacob to his children before his death finds its echo in the Haphtorah which describes the King David's advice and wishes to Solomon prior to his death. The message includes a charge to guard the Sacred mission of the people as set out in the Torah. He is also warned not to "go soft" on certain political foes.

TELL ME RABBI ... THE SABBATH CANDLES

Lighting of the Sabbath candles formally ushers in the Sabbath for the members of the household. It has usually been tradition for the wife to fulfil this religious obligation. Unless a woman has been living alone, she begins to observe the kindling of Shabbat candles on the first Sabbath after her marriage.When two or more married women are in the same household, either on a temporary or permanent basis, it is customary for each to light Sabbath candles separately. When the woman of a house is absent or is incapable of performing the ritual, or where a man lives alone, he lights the Sabbath candles himself. Although the woman is given priority in fulfilling this religious duty, lighting Sabbath candles is a requirement related to the general observance of the Sabbath and is a religious duty incumbent upon both men and women.

The Sabbath candles are kindled approximately twenty minutes before sunset. In the absence of a Jewish calendar listing candle-lighting time for a particular geographic area, the time of sunset can be found in the daily local newspaper and the candle lighting time determined accordingly. Once the time of sunset passes, the candles may no longer be lit. It is permissible for the candles to be lit somewhat earlier. This is often done in the summer months when the day is particularly long and the Sabbath might be ushered in an hour or so earlier.

The minimum number of candles to be kindled is two. They symbolically represent the two forms of the fourth commandment: Zachor - "Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy" (Exodus 20:8), and Shamor - "Observe the Sabbath day to keep it holy" (Deut.5:12).

There are some family or local traditions where three or more candles are kindled, or that call for an additional Sabbath candle for every child born. One is free to light more than the minimum if one chooses to do so. White candles intended specifically for the Sabbath eve are generally available. If they are not available, any festive dinner candles ofwhatever shape, design, or colour may be used instead. The lighting of oil lamps or the traditional "Sabbath (oil) lamp" may still be observed among some. The only condition is that they be large enough to burn during the Sabbath meal and well into nightfall.

Although any candelabra are permissible, it is preferable to have a pair of candlesticks or candelabra reserved specifically for the Sabbath. The beautiful custom of setting aside money for charity prior to lighting the Shabbat candles is to be encouraged. Although proper ritual procedure requires that the recitation of a blessing always precedes the performance of the mitzvah, in this instance the candles are lit first and the benediction is recited afterward. The reason is that the recital of the blessing formally ushers in the Sabbath after which it is forbidden to light a flame.

The procedure is to close one's eyes or cover them with the hands while the benediction is recited. When eyes are opened after the blessing, the sight of the Sabbath light brings forth the delight that is actually regarded as the culmination of the mitzvah. The blessing recited for the Sabbath candles is : "Baruch ata ad-onai elo-hainu melech ha-olam aher kidshanu b'mitzvotav v'tzivanu l'hadlik ner shel shabbat". Blessed are Thou, Lord our G-d, King of the Universe who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to kindle the Sabbath lights. After the candles are lit, it is proper to greet the others in the household with the words "Shabbat Shalom." Everyone responds likewise. The Sabbath candles should be either on the table where the Sabbath meal is eaten or, if this is impractical, it should at least be placed in the same room. (Under exceptional circumstances, as when staying at a hotel or resort, or when confined for illness, etc; this requirement is waived, and the candles may be kindled wherever it is most practical to do so).

"Shabbat Shalom" is generously sponsored by Rosetta and Nathan Baron