Vayigash
Genesis 44:18 – 47:27
Judah steps forward with an impassioned plea for Benjamin's freedom, offering himself as a slave in his brother's place — one of the Torah's most powerful speeches. Joseph, overcome with emotion, can no longer contain himself and reveals his identity: 'I am Joseph; is my father still alive?' He interprets his entire ordeal as divine providence: 'God sent me before you to preserve life.' Pharaoh invites Jacob's entire family to Egypt, and they settle in the land of Goshen. Jacob and Joseph are reunited after twenty-two years apart.
Key figures
- Judah — Delivers the impassioned plea, offers himself in Benjamin's place
- Joseph — Reveals his identity to his brothers, reunites with his father
- Jacob/Israel — Journeys to Egypt, reunites with Joseph in Goshen
- Benjamin — The brother for whom Judah pleads
- Pharaoh — Welcomes Jacob's family, grants them the land of Goshen
Famous verses
- 45:3 And Joseph said to his brothers: "I am Joseph; does my father yet live?" And his brothers could not answer him; for they were dumbfounded before him.
- 45:5 And now be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that you sold me here; for God did send me before you to preserve life.
- 46:30 And Israel said to Joseph: "Now I can die, since I have seen your face and know that you are still alive."
Haftarah: {'ref': 'Ezekiel 37:15-28', 'connection': "Ezekiel's vision of two sticks — Judah and Joseph — joined into one symbolizes the reunification of the divided kingdom, mirroring Joseph and Judah's reconciliation."}
Total gematria: 343,947.