Parshas Vayechi for Kids

פרשת ויחי

Yaakov gathers his sons to bless them, each one in his own way, and asks to be buried in Eretz Yisrael. A family that began with one man leaving home has become twelve shevatim.

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What happens in Parshas Vayechi

Yaakov Avinu lives seventeen years in Mitzrayim. As his days come to an end, he asks Yosef to promise to bury him in Eretz Yisrael, in the Me'aras HaMachpeilah with Avraham and Yitzchak. Yosef brings his sons, Ephraim and Menashe, and Yaakov blesses them, crossing his hands to place his right hand on the younger one. He says that Bnei Yisrael will bless their children with their names, and to this day parents bless their sons on Friday night: may Hashem make you like Ephraim and Menashe.

Then Yaakov gathers all twelve sons and gives each one his own bracha: Yehudah is compared to a lion and will be a leader, Yissachar will learn Torah, Zevulun will dwell by the sea, and so on. Chazal tell us his sons declared Shema Yisrael, and Yaakov answered Baruch Shem. Yosef and his brothers carry Yaakov to Eretz Yisrael with great honor, and Yosef reassures his brothers with kindness. Sefer Bereishis ends with Yosef's promise that Hashem will one day bring Bnei Yisrael home.

Lessons and middos for children

  • Brachos for children

    Yaakov Avinu blessed each son in his own special way. Every child has his or her own strengths that Hashem gave them.

  • Achdus

    All twelve brothers stood together around their father. Our family is strongest when we stand together and care for each other.

  • Kibbud av va'em

    Yosef kept his promise and brought his father to Eretz Yisrael. We honor our parents' wishes, even after much time has passed.

Questions for the Shabbos table

  1. What bracha do parents give their children on Friday night, and where does it come from?
  2. Why do you think Yaakov Avinu gave each son a different bracha?
  3. If you could give a bracha to someone in our family, what would it be?
  4. Sefer Bereishis is finished. Which story from the whole sefer did you like best?

How your child steps into the story

Your child is gathered with the twelve shevatim around Yaakov Avinu's bed, listening as Ephraim and Menashe receive the bracha still given at Shabbos tables today. The story ends with Bnei Yisrael growing in Goshen, looking ahead to Sefer Shemos and the story of Moshe Rabbeinu.