The year was 2255, the place, Egypt.
One man's innocent dream
had turned into a nightmare
and back into a dream -- again.
Parshat Vayechi: Family Ties.
Things can get really complicated
between siblings.
These had been difficult years
for Jacob's family.
First the business with his brother Esau,
where he put on a disguise,
dressed up as Esau,
taken the firstborn blessing.
Then there were the two sisters
he ended up marrying as the result
of some trickery from his father-in-law.
And, finally, the business with Joseph.
But now, Joseph was the prime minister
of all Egypt, and reunited with his father.
Jacob wanted to make sure that the family
would live in peace forever.
According to the commentator Rashi,
Jacob got ready to reveal a prophecy
that would tell them how to live in peace.
He got ready to speak, prepared,
but the words just wouldn't come.
He had lost his vision.
Jacob moved to the edge of the bed,
and sat up to speak.
"Joseph, I have one last request.
It's nearly time for me to go the way
of my fathers, but when I am gone,
please take my bones back to the Holy Land."
"Father, I will do exactly what you have asked."
"Thank you. Now, remember how
God appeared to me,
promising we'd become a fruitful people,
and that the Holy Land
would be ours for eternity.
Alas, your poor mother Rachel died
on the travels to Ephrat,
and she is buried in Bethlehem."
Jacob was buying time, trying to find
the prophecy that would save his family,
but nothing came.
So, he prepared to bless his grandsons.
Joseph placed Menassah the firstborn
to Jacob's right, and Ephraim to the left.
Jacob reached his hands forward,
and then crossed them over.
Joseph tried to switch the hands back --
after all, the firstborn blessing
comes from the right hand --
but his father knew exactly
what he was doing.
"Manassah will become great,
but his younger brother Ephraim
will be far greater.
His offspring will fill the nations,
and people will bless their children
to be like your two sons."
The grandsons were happy,
but Jacob still tried to find the prophecy
he was looking for.
His vision was weak, so on he went,
blessing his children.
"Reuben, the eldest of sons.
Shimon and Levi, passionate ones.
Judah, a lion, keeper of lore.
Zevulun, you dwell right by the seashore.
Issachar, a worker. Dan, a judge.
Gad, whose armies will battle and trudge.
Asher, a baker. Naphtali, a hind.
Joseph, the beauty,
winning girls' hearts and minds.
Binyamin, a wolf cub,
your tribe will be strong."
And Jacob then died,
his soul moved on.
Joseph immediately spoke to the Pharaoh,
his boss, and asked for
compassionate leave to bury his father.
A huge state funeral took place,
and people mourned for seven days.
But the brothers were scared;
perhaps, now Dad was gone,
Joseph would kill them in revenge
for the whole business
over the multicolored coat.
"Uh, uh, Joseph?"
"Yeah, Joseph?"
"Just a quick word -- we're really sorry.
Before Dad died, he said
you should forgive us
for the horrible thing we did to you.
Please don't kill us;
we'll be your slaves, anything."
Joseph just cried.
His brothers fell to their knees.
"Brothers, you tried to harm me,
but God intended this for good.
If you hadn't abandoned me,
I wouldn't have this job
and be in the place to save millions of people.
Despite everything, I love you."
And so, there was no prophecy
needed after all;
they lived happily ever after.
And, at one hundred ten years old,
Joseph lay down for his eternal sleep
while his great-great-grandchildren
played outside.
Joseph had suffered a lot in his life,
but he kept his faith in God,
and things turned out better
than he could have ever expected.
It's easy for us to get upset
when things don't turn out how we'd like,
but perhaps it's for the best.
We can't see the bigger picture at the time,
but maybe someone else can.
Our job is to do the best we can do,
whatever life may throw at us.
Trust that the future will be great,
even when we don't have prophecy.
And when you really stop and look at things,
the present moment is generally pretty good.
Chazak, Chazak, v'nitchazek.
Be strong, be strong,
and may we be strengthened.
Producer: Sarah Lefton
Animation Director: Nick Fox-Gieg
Animation: Jeanne Stern
Editorial Director: Matthue Roth
Theme Music: Tim Cosgrove
Written and Narrated by Marcus J. Freed
Sound Recording: Mark Rice-Oxley