The annual-cycle Torah reading week, parsha Vayechi (Genesis/Bereshiet chapter 47:28-End) not only concludes the story of the life and times of Yakov or Jacob, but of Yosef (Joseph) as well, and the Book of Genesis.

The Erev Shabbat reading:

Among other things, including Yakov’s blessings for his sons, and thus the tribes of Israel, this parsha includes the ‘adoption’ of Yosef’s two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh (or is it Manasseh and Ephraim???) into the “twelve” bribes of Israel. Where Yakov “crosses his hands,” during that blessing.

He asks a question, too. Which seems almost out of place. And yet, it’s also almost as easy for us to just gloss over it, and ignore the potential implications. But is should resonate with us now:

The combined two-part teaching is here: