We take the division of the Torah portion into seven sections for granted. We even think we can divide it up more if we want to call more people up. But the division of the Parshah into aliyot is no simple matter, and is controlled by various considerations. The places where we stop often have deep significance or relevance to the story. This becomes especially interesting in parshiot where there are differing traditions as to when to make the breaks; such as our Parshah. While the breaks when Jacob hears of his sons survival (45;27), or after the enumeration of the family that descended to Egypt (46;27), are obvious; how to divide the rest of the Parshah is less so. Do we divide Pharaoh’s invitation to Joseph’s family to live in Egypt, or the story of their descent to Egypt. Here, there are two differing traditions. One stops at Pharaoh’s promise to the brothers that they will ‘eat of the fat of the land’ (45;18); while the other breaks in the middle of the story of those who descended to Egypt (46;7). One can see these pauses as emphasising the topic they are situated in. When talking of the move to Egypt, is what is important the land that they are going to or the people that are going? Will Jewish survival in that period be mainly ensured by the fact that they are going to a land of plenty in the midst of famine, or by the spiritual quality of the people who formed the nucleus of the Jewish people? This is the dilemma that faces all Diaspora communities. How much does success in the land of their residence dilute their Jewish identity? Is the price of material wealth, spiritual poverty? This question can be pertinently asked of British Jewry. British Jews have both eaten of and greatly contributed to ‘the fat of the land’. Their spiritual prowess is less recognisable. As Geoffrey Alderman points out in his new history of the Jews of these isles, British Jewry has contributed virtually nothing to Jewish cultural, intellectual or political life. Not one Jewish cultural movement, philosophical idea or religious innovation, has its origins in this country. That fact should give us pause for thought. For too long we have only lived of the fat of the land. We need to build the institutions, and invest in the people, that will enable British Jewry to also enrich itself, and others, spiritually.

ALIYAH BY ALIYAH SYNOPSIS

Rishon	Judah pleads for Benjamin before Joseph and offers himself instead.
Sheni	Joseph breaks down and reveals his identity to his brothers.
Shelishi	Joseph tells his brothers to go and bring the family to Egypt.
Revi’i	Pharaoh offers Joseph’s family the best land. The brothers go and tell Jacob, who faints.
Chamishi	Jacob and his family move to Egypt.
Shishi	Joseph is reunited with his father and is presented before Pharaoh.
Shevi’i	Joseph’s economic reforms give all the land to Pharaoh.
Haftorah	Ezekiel: 37;15-28:  The two kingdoms of Israel will be reunited into one nation.

Sidra Statistics

Parshat Vayigash

·         has 106 verses ;

·         is the 11th in Genesis, 11th in the Torah

·         9th longest in Genesis, 31st longest in the Torah

·         has no mitzvot.