Vayigash in a Nutshell

The name of the Parshah, "Vayigash," means "And he approached" and it is found in Genesis 44:18.

Judah approaches Joseph to plead for the release of Benjamin, offering himself as a slave to the Egyptian ruler in Benjamin’s stead. Upon witnessing his brothers’ loyalty to one another, Joseph reveals his identity to them.“I am Joseph,” he declares. “Is my father still alive?”

The brothers are overcome by shame and remorse, but Joseph comforts them. “It was not you who sent me here,” he says to them, “but G‑d. It has all been ordained from Above to save us, and the entire region, from famine.”

The brothers rush back to Canaan with the news. Jacob comes to Egypt with his sons and their families—seventy souls in all—and is reunited with his beloved son after 22 years. On his way to Egypt he receives the divine promise: “Fear not to go down to Egypt; for I will there make of you a great nation. I will go down with you into Egypt, and I will also surely bring you up again.”

Joseph gathers the wealth of Egypt by selling food and seed during the famine. Pharaoh gives Jacob’s family the fertile county of Goshen to settle, and the children of Israel prosper in their Egyptian exile.

Learn: Vayigash in Depth
Browse: Vayigash Parshah Columnists
Prep: Devar Torah Q&A for Vayigash
Read: Haftarah in a Nutshell
Play: Vayigash Parshah Quiz

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25 Comments

A K December 22, 2023

Why did Joseph, as ruler of Egypt, have all male Egyptians circumcised? Reply

Dwight D. Williams Garland TX December 26, 2023

in response to A K:

for A K
This from the Chumash: When all the inhabitants of Egypt therefore were starving, they asked Joseph to provide them with grain. Joseph knew that God had commanded Abraham and his descendants to circumcise any servant they purchased.22 When he became officially responsible for the welfare of Egypt, this in effect made all its citizens into his property, and he thus became liable to circumcise them. When they came to him for food, he saw this as an opportunity to prevail upon them to do so.

&

This from TheRebbe.org/Daily Wisdom/Mikeitz: Refining the World
Pharaoh said to all Egypt, “Go to Joseph and do whatever he tells you to.” Genesis 41:55
Egyptian society was steeped in the pursuit of self-serving carnal pleasure, which is reduced by circumcision. Thus, by having the Egyptians circumcised, Joseph subdued their obsession with carnal indulgence. Pharaoh himself instructed them Reply

Joseph June 25, 2018

That was the Torah portion of the week when I was born. One thing made me curious is if the brothers deep down knew that it was Joseph who they spoke to. Reply

ben seattle December 14, 2018

in response to Joseph:

i think not. they were very surprised, i take it. why would they be surprised if they knew about it? it is like someone saying 'i have a surprise' and then you already knew when you got it so its not so surprising Reply

Dwight D Williams Garland, TX January 4, 2023

in response to Joseph:

Although there are a great number of reasons the brothers did not recognize Joseph, the fourth aliyah of Parsha Miketz in the Chumash does provide two clear and simple reasons.

1--Joseph pretended not to understand their language and to strengthen that ruse, he spoke with them via a translator.

2--When Joseph was taken to Egypt, he was a lad. He now stands before them as a grown man. He did not have a beard when they last saw him, and now he does.

On another level
Miketz/Ascent Lights: "Joseph Rules"---The sons of Jacob were shepherds; they chose this occupation because it kept them separated from the "mundaness" (not a real word) of the world and allowed them the opportunity to study without hinderances. In their hearts, they could not fathom their brother Joseph being so immersed in the day-to-day demands of the physical world and still remain faithful to the purity of what studying had brought him. On top of that, the person before them was a ruler of Egypt. Reply

Kyra Meier Tallahassee, FL January 7, 2017

Disfunctional Families and How G-d Repair it I think the writing is in the Torah for the above reason. Fixing families feels overwhelming. How do you repair disrespect? And yet, the article shows progress. I chose to be Jewish; & Im also learning. So when I read the part about mourning I was distracted with-why clothes are torn. This is what I learned:"Our souls existed before we were born, and they continue to exist after we die." I wondered for a moment what it was talking about....But it means "a holy spirit", doesn't it? that G-d made us; and...holy is in our soul-all we have to do is want it to reign. Its the part that makes us cry, when environment isnt what we want it to be. When people let us down. In this way-"Were made in G-d's image"?? Then it said:"The souls that have passed on are still with us. We can’t see them, but we sense they are there." I liked that because:My parents taught me belief in G-d. I was told they passed away. What I find comforting is...the values are alive, as if they were...the same holy spirit Reply

Karen emeryville December 18, 2020

in response to Kyra Meier:

Thank you Kyra! Reply

זאב מרדכי בן אברם באר שבע הנגב December 23, 2020

in response to Kyra Meier:

Not so much individually; but, we are not just made but fashioned in God`s image. Look closely at the word image and see the word imagine and its derivatives. Though the body, as we see it, "passes"; its components live on. It passes it chemicals and elements to other things; minerals and hydrocarbons and carbohydrates, etc. The body, from head to sole, is changed but it lives on in other ways. The soul is also changed from being confined to one carrier: It is now available for various carriers. Each individual who knew them may now, and should, carry some of that person`s spirit forward. That is a divine & holy task. When we recite the mourners` Ka-deesh, we are not addressing God; we are confirming our commitment to life to our fellow congregants. We(I) do not address heaven, We refer, instead of the 2nd person, but in the third person. Now, the soles and souls of Jacob-Israel be together. So may it be for all of Israel Reply

Ezza Amitai Australia January 4, 2017

I remember the young daughter of my friend learning her Torah portions for the second year running and she came to the part where Joseph was taken to Egypt. She said,"Oh no! Does Joseph have to go to Egypt again?!" So funny. Reply

Chabad.org Staff December 20, 2015

To Brett The Nutshells were written by our editors. They do not exist in book form at this time. Reply

Brett Florida December 18, 2015

I am new to this site, I'm curious as to what edition& author these roundups & commentaries are taken from and get a copy either in print or electronically in one place. Reply

Anonymous Dallas, TX December 7, 2013

God Did It! Joseph tells his brothers that it was God, not they, who sent him to Egypt for the purpose of saving folks from famine. This raises several questions: How did Joseph know that this was God's plan? If it really was God's plan, couldn't He have found a simpler one? What becomes of the brothers' free will? Have they no responsibility then for their dastardly deed? Reply

Dwight D. Williams Garland, TX December 1, 2013

Judas harsh speech to Joseph Yrachmiel,
There is a wonderful article titled "Showdown" from the Zohar section of parshah Vayigash at Kabbalah Online; it plainly explains Judah's boldness. L'Chaim!

Baruch Shem, Baruch Hu Reply

Yrachmiel Fisher Kings Park, Y December 20, 2012

Judas harsh speech to Joseph Why did Judah speak so harshly. Why wash't he more afraid? Reply

Ephraim Jonah Jerusalem, Israel December 20, 2012

Why Yosef did not communicate with his father. From the text in this and the previous 3 parshiot there are several clues. First, at age 17 he had just been reprimanded by his father who then sent him off alone to one of the most dangerous places to check how his 10 hulking brothers are doing! No sooner than he arrives they strip him off his coat and throw him in a pit. He is then kidnapped by Midianites and sold off in Egypt. What was he thinking? That his father and brothers exiled him thinking he wanted to be leader of the tribe. His name for Menashe - he thanks G-d for helping him to forget ALL his father's House. He weeps uncontrollably when he sees his father, regretting the years he ignored him. He revealed himself when he learned from Yehuda for the first time that his father thought he was dead! His first words were "Is my father still alive?" He knew his father was alive- his brothers had told him so! He is saying my father who loved me is still alive! Reply

Carol Louisville, KY December 18, 2012

Contact Perhaps Joseph feared for his life if he were to return to see his father (if that were even possible as a slave or an advisor to a king). What then was his duty: to his father at the risk of his life, or to his master with the ability to spare the lives of many innocent Egyptians? Reply

Julie Durham, UK January 16, 2012

my mistake It has been pointed out to me that it is Egypt that got rich during the famine, ie. not Joseph's own wealth. My appologies.
So much to learn, so much to learn... Reply

Rabbi Zalman Nelson Tsfat, Israel January 15, 2012

To Uri, Mexico Nice point. You could take it further, because Yosef in Egypt provided sustenance back to his family in Israel, just like much money and resources from America have gone into supporting Israel.

However, before he dies Yosef has his brothers swear to bury him in Israel, since that is after all a Jew's rightful place. Reply

uri mexico, mexico December 30, 2011

The answer to why did Joseph made his father suffer all those years by not visiting him is a clear example of most Jews who do well in the exile and forget about Israel Reply

Yosef Massachusetts December 20, 2017

in response to uri:

Yosef/Egypt Omein!!! Reply

Anonymous ALBANY , NY December 28, 2011

contact In all those years Joseph let his father suffer at not knowing his fate. Didn't his conscience bother him? Reply

Julie Durham, UK December 28, 2011

getting rich on famine? I am shocked that Joseph gets rich by selling food during a famine. That seems inhuman to me. What is this all about? Reply

Anonymous seattle December 14, 2018

in response to Julie:

getting rich on famine? he himself is not getting rich, because he is giving it to his country. to me, that seems more like a modern society then an inhuman act. if the country is hungry, he can use the money with the permissian of the court( or their version of a court.) to buy seed and make the country happier by making more food. Reply

Leon Green London December 30, 2022

in response to Julie:

I think what he aquires is influence and the trappings of wealth. I don't think he's literally profiteering. Reply

Isaac Leon Freed Austin, TX December 11, 2010

Distance/travel time I read for instance that Joseph's brothers made the trip from Egypt to their Father's home and back. How far was it and how long did it take them to make the trips? Reply

Genesis 44:18–47:27

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