Torah Reflections: Conversations on the Weekly Parshah

בס "ד

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Intégrer la Torah dans sa vie par la réflexion et la conversation peut être une expérience incroyablement amusante et engageante. C'est un voyage de découverte, où la sagesse ancienne et les enseignements intemporels prennent vie dans nos expériences quotidiennes. Grâce à la réflexion, nous avons la possibilité de plonger dans la riche tapisserie de la Torah, d'en extraire des idées et des leçons profondes qui résonnent dans notre vie moderne. La joie réside dans les moments "aha", ces occasions où un verset ou une histoire de la Torah se connecte soudainement à nos défis personnels, nos aspirations et nos valeurs. Et lorsque nous nous engageons dans des conversations sur la Torah avec d'autres personnes, cela devient une exploration interactive, où des perspectives et des interprétations diverses améliorent notre compréhension. Ces dialogues suscitent souvent l'enthousiasme et la curiosité intellectuelle, rendant le processus d'apprentissage à la fois agréable et satisfaisant. La Torah devient une partie vivante et dynamique de notre vie, offrant non seulement des conseils mais aussi une source de fascination, de connexion et de croissance sans fin.

REMARQUE : Ne vous sentez pas obligé de parcourir toutes les sources ou de répondre à toutes les questions - à moins que vous ne le souhaitiez. Même une seule source ou une seule question vous donnera beaucoup de matière pour la discussion et la méditation. Profitez-en !

Some thoughts about Parshat Vayechi


“And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years; so the days of Jacob, the years of his life, were a hundred forty and seven years. And the time drew near that Israel must die; and he called his son Joseph, and said unto him: ‘If now I have found favour in your sight, put, I pray you, your hand under my thigh, and deal kindly and truly with me; bury me not, I pray you, in Egypt” (Genesis 47:28-9).

In the later years of Jacob’s life, dwelling in Egypt at the age of 147, he contemplated the very essence of existence. Seeking his son Joseph, he expressed a heartfelt desire not to be laid to rest in the foreign soil of Egypt but in the ancestral land (Genesis 47:28-9). Scriptures led to introspection, with verses from Chronicles and Psalms highlighting life’s transient nature: “For we are sojourners before You, and tenants, as all our fathers were; our days on the earth are like a shadow, and there is no hope” (I Chronicles 29:15). Similarly, Psalms poignantly contributed: “Hear my prayer, O L-rd, and my cry for help; do not be silent at my tears; for I am a stranger with You, a sojourner like all my fathers” (Psalms 39:13).

The Etz Yosef adds depth, explaining the idea of there being ‘no hope’ is rooted in the inevitability of physical death since the days of Adam and Chava. But then, a transformative idea emerges—Jacob’s imminent days are not devoid of hope but are “entirely good and long” (Taanit 5b; Berachos 18b). As the Talmud teaches, tzaddikim live on after death.

The reflection encourages us to go beyond the dichotomy between This World and the World to Come, urging a focus on spiritual growth in the present. Death is a temporary passage; the important thing is to seize each fleeting moment. Savoring life, not fixating on longevity, becomes paramount. Jacob’s contemplation is a timeless invitation, urging purposeful, wise living, anchored in the awareness of life’s transience but also the hope embedded in each passing moment.


Questions for discussion and personal reflection:

  1. Have you ever thought about life as something transient, like a passing shadow, and how does that make you view your own life?
  2. Does the inevitability of physical death contradict the importance of hope in your perspective on life and its significance?
  3. Considering the notion that Jacob’s upcoming days are seen as “entirely good and long,” how can you bring this positive outlook into your everyday life, understanding that the present moment contributes to something greater?
  4. What do you think about the idea that righteous individuals remain “alive” even after death, and how might this influence your thoughts on the purpose of life and the legacy you leave behind?
  5. Viktor Frankl said, “it is never too late, and it is always high time,” How does this idea encourage you to reflect on your life, especially during important moments of self-evaluation?

Shabbat Shalom !

Par le rabbin Tani Burton

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