Egypt in the End

The final parsha of Bereshit/Genesis, Vayechi, comes with an ending of what we have come to know as the originating line of Jewish/Israelite heritage, marked traditionally by Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob – with the wives Sarah, Rebecca, Leah, and Rachel – and finally, with other important women such as Hagar, Keturah, Bilhah, and Zilpah. After this, the story changes to being marked by the “tribes” of Israel, following the sons of Jacob. Vayechi provides distinctions between the sons and grandsons that mark the new identifiers of the Hebrew people.

The book of Genesis ends with forgiveness from Joseph, the settlement of Jacob’s descendants in Egypt, and sustenance for the family. Joseph dies as the book closes, ending the story with prosperity and hope.

Joseph’s status crossed from the world of his parents and siblings into Egypt, and he asks to be carried with his descendants to the land that G!d promised. Therefore, the book ends with the marker of time seen throughout the Torah – the gathering of generations after a full life:

Then Joseph died at 110 years old, and they enbalmed him (with spices) and placed him in a coffin in Egypt.

From this ending, a story will begin in Shemot/Exodus of Moses, Aaron, the flight out of Egypt…

A Nostalgia Ride on the MTA