BellaOnline Forums Religion and Spirituality Judaism Parashat Vayechi

Shalom everyone!

This Shabbat, we read Parashat Vayechi, the twelfth and final Parashah in Sefer Bereshit (Genesis). I would love to get a discussion going about the parashah hashavuah. Anything strike you in particular in this week's parashah? I find each of Yaakov's blessings to his children to be tremendously insightful. It's truly incredible that we've almost finished one book of the Torah already!
Lauren Tuchman
Bella Online Judaism editor

I think the scene between Jacob and Manesseh and Ephraim is really interesting. It's yet another blessing scene where Jacob is running the show. This guy loves to be in control! Once again the younger child is favored. For you Torah scholars out there - what's the theory on why the younger son is always favored in Jewish lineage? What does this say about Jewish ideas about power and who should possess it?