VAYECHI

With this Parashah, the reading of the First Book of the Chumash: Bereshit, which is composed of twelve Parashiot, concludes. Upon finishing a book of the Torah, one says, “Chazak, Chazak, Venitchazek,” which means: strength, more strength, together we will become stronger! This implies that we feel content with what we have learned but desire to learn even more. Jacob was the first person to suffer from an illness before dying, because he asked HaShem to do so, so that people could instruct their children and settle their affairs before they died. Abraham was the first person with outward signs of old age, such as wrinkles and gray hair, so that people could recognize and honor the elderly. He was the first person to experience pain and suffering, as he asked HaShem to do so to lessen suffering in the World to Come.