PARSHA-PIX Parshat Vai-chi
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Parsha Pix
Lock and chain in upper left is for the "super-closed" nature of the
beginning of VAYCHI. To clarify an earlier statement: VAYCHI does not
begin at the beginning of a PARSHA, neither open nor closed; it begins in
the middle of a parsha. That makes it exceedingly CLOSED for the beginning
of a sedra.
The bed is mentioned more than once at the beginning of the sedra. HAMITAH,
the bed, has a G’matriya of 59. When Yosef came to visit his ailing
father, one sixtieth of his illness was removed, leaving 59 parts of the
original HINEI (60) AVICHA CHOLEH, your father is ill. This is the numeric
"support" for the notion that a sick person is relieved of 1/60 of his
illness when visited (specifically by someone whose visit is really
wanted).
The crossed hands are Yaakov's, as he put his right hand on Efrayim's head
and his left Menashe's, even though Yosef had presented them to Yaakov in
such a way that Yaakov's right would go on the head of the firstborn,
Menashe.
It should not escape our attention that the Book of B'reishit is FILLED
with firstborn-second child issues (not just problems). Kayin and Hevel.
Yishmael and Yitzchak (maybe). Yaakov and Eisav, of course. Yosef and his
brothers, for sure. Reuven on the one hand and Levi, Yehuda, and Yosef on
the other. Peretz and Zerach.Efrayim and Menashe.
The crowned lion is for Yehuda, as is the lion cub. Yehuda's bracha refers
to him as a GUR (cub), ARYEI and LAVI (lions at different ages). Yehuda
Leib is a common name-pair based on this bracha.
The wolf is Binyamin. Binyamin Ze’ev Volf is also a common combination of
names.
The faucet is for Reuven (based on what Yaakov said to him).
The Israel Postal Authority emblem is for Naftali. Naftali Tzvi Hirsh, or
two of those three names often come together.
The snake is for Dan.
The donkey is for Yissachar.
The ship is for Zevulun.
The bread is Asher.
The math-like statement stands for Efrayim and Menashe are like (approx.
equal to) Reuven and Shimon. Numerically, this is so too. E&M = 732 and
R&S = 731.
There is a Davka graphic of a father blessing his son (the words of the
bracha come from Vai-chi).
The Pyramids in the hot desert sun remind us where the sedra takes place
and where the end of B'reishit finds us. In Mitzrayim.
Chazak is for the conclusion of the book of B'reishit.
The hard-to-make-out photo between the donkey's nose and the boy being
blessed is a picture of Kever David and refers to the haftara.
TTRIDDLES...
are Torah Tidbits-style riddles on Parshat HaShavua (sometimes on the
calendar). They are found in the hard-copy of TT scattered throughout,
usually at the bottom of different columns. In the electronic versions of
TT, they are found all together at the end of the ParshaPix-TTriddles
section. The best solution set submitted each week (there isn't always a
best) wins a double prize a CD from Noam Productions and/or a gift (game,
puzzle, book, etc.) from Big Deal
Last issue’s (VAYIGASH) TTriddles:
[1] As one, in hand, I will bring, a fish (separate prize)
[2] When reading of redeeming one's house, the pasuk reminds you of
something in Vayigash
[3] money, arrows, gourds
[4] Yosef, Avimelech, David, Achashveirosh, Ochu
[5] Whose son has to watch out for whose son, if he is an early riser?
[6] Hey, Ma Nishma?
[7] E:C = Y:D • How many?
[8] That leaves three visual TTriddles (in addition to the markings on the
money sacks).
And the envelope, please...
[1] As one = K'ECHAD, in hand = BAYAD, I will bring = AVI, a fish = DAG.
That's step one. Now g'matriya. K'ECHAD = 33, BAYAD = 16, AVI (ALEF- BET-YUD-ALEF)
= 14, DAG = 7. Now give meaning to these numbers. They are the subtotals
of the "souls that went down to Egypt" from each of Yaakov's wives. 33
from Leah, 16 from Zilpa,14 from Rachel, and 7 from Bilha. Total, 70.
[2] Vayikra 24:15 tells us that if one redeems his house that he has
pledged to the Mikdash, V'YASAF CHAMISHIT... he must add a fifth (of its
value). V'AYSAF is the letters of YOSEF. CHAMISHIT, a fifth, reminds us of
the tax that Yosef levied on the people of Egypt.
[3] VAI-LAKEIT, and he gathered. Yosef gathered all the money of Egypt.
Yonatan's servant gathered the arrows shot as a signal between Yonatan and
David. One of the Bnei HaNevi'im gathered gourds at Elisha's request.
[4] This was a sneaky one. It looks like five names that have something in
common. Actually, OCHU is not the name of a person. It is the answer of
the TTriddle, albeit in Aramaic. OCHU is Targum for MAHARU, go quickly.
Yosef hastened the brothers to go back and bring Yaakov down to Egypt.
Avimelech hasten the people with him to do as they saw him do (Shoftim
9:48). David hastened his servants to flee from the approaching Avshalom.
Achashveirosh told those in his inner court to quickly bring Haman before
him.
[5] Yissachar's son TOLA (worm) had to watch out for the early bird, i.e.
if GUNI ben Naftali was an early riser, then TOLA had what to worry about.
[6] V'HAKOL NISHMA BEIT PAR'O... Word reached Par'o's court that Yosef's
brothers came to Egypt. MA NISHMA? V'HAKOL NISHMA.
[7] Eliezer is to camels as Yaakov is to donkeys. Both sent 10 animals
laden with the best of Canaan.
[8] The symbol on the money sacks is the Egyptian symbol for 100. Three
sacks makes 300 pieces of silver to Binyamin from Yosef.
[9] The fellow in the picture in the lower-left corner is Orde Wingate.
His name, especially in the Ashkenazic pronunciation, is close to the
youngest son of Binyamin.
[10] The bird is an albatross, which has also been known as a gooney bird.
GUNI was one of Naftali's sons.
[11] The two wooden rods are from the haftara. They would be inscribed
with the names YEHUDA and YOSEF.
This week's TTriddles:
[1] the intelligent hand motion
[2] Why would this week's haftara go with Tazri'a, TTriddly speaking?
[3] Should Daniel get the last Aliya this Shabbat?
[4] Bracha, Hagada, Bracha and opp.
[5] What is common to 40 days and 12 months?
[6] The pair within the dozen. Of what?
[7] Eliezer/Avraham, David/Shim'i, who&who/Yaakov
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