Vaychi

Jacob, Ephraim, and Manasseh (17th-century painting by Guercino)

Vaychi, Vayechi or Vayhi (וַיְחִי‎—Hebrew for "and he lived," the first word of the parashah) is the twelfth weekly Torah portion (פָּרָשָׁה‎, parashah) in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading and the last in the Book of Genesis. It constitutes Genesis 47:28–50:26. The parashah tells of Jacob's request for burial in Canaan, Jacob's blessing of Joseph's sons Ephraim and Manasseh, Jacob's blessing of his sons, Jacob's death and burial, and Joseph's death.

It is the shortest weekly Torah portion in the Book of Genesis (although not in the Torah). It is made up of 4,448 Hebrew letters, 1,158 Hebrew words, 85 verses, and 148 lines in a Torah scroll.[1] Jews read it the twelfth Sabbath after Simchat Torah, generally in December or January.[2]

  1. ^ "Bereshit Torah Stats," Archived 2018-11-23 at the Wayback Machine Akhlah Inc.
  2. ^ "Parashat Vayechi", Hebcal.