General Overview<\/strong>: In this week\u2019s Torah treading, Vayigash<\/em>, Judah responds to Joseph\u2018s demand that Benjamin remain enslaved in Egypt, pleading to be taken as a substitute. Joseph reveals his identity to his brothers. At Joseph\u2019s request, Jacob and his family come down to Egypt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n First Aliyah<\/a>: In the end of last week\u2019s Torah<\/a> reading, Joseph demanded that Benjamin remain behind in Egypt as his slave. This week\u2019s reading opens with Judah approaching Joseph and appealed to him to allow Benjamin to return to his father Jacob in Canaan. He spoke of Jacob\u2019s reluctance to allow Benjamin \u2013 Rachel\u2018s only remaining child \u2013 to make the trip to Egypt, and the great love Jacob harbored for his youngest son.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Second Aliyah<\/a>: Judah<\/a> continued: \u201cWhen [Jacob] sees that the boy is gone, he will die.\u201d He explained to Joseph that he, Judah, had taken personal responsibility that Benjamin would return unharmed to Canaan<\/a>. And as such, he asked to remain as a slave in stead of Benjamin. At that point, Joseph could not restrain himself any longer. He asked all the Egyptians present to leave the room, and he revealed his identity to his brothers: \u201cI am Joseph! Is my father still alive?!\u201d He then reassured them, and asked them not to be upset about selling him into slavery: \u201cFor it was to preserve life that G\u2011d sent me before you. For . . . another five years there will be neither plowing nor harvest, and G\u2011d<\/a> sent me before you to ensure your survival in the land\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Third Aliyah<\/a>: Joseph directed his brothers to quickly return to Canaan and bring Jacob and their families back to Egypt, where Joseph promised to provide them with food until the famine ends. Joseph embraced his brothers and cried. Pharaoh was informed that Joseph\u2019s family had arrived, and he, too, instructed them to come to Egypt where he would give them the \u201cbest of the land.\u201d The brothers went to Canaan \u2013 laden with gifts from Pharaoh and Joseph \u2013 and informed Jacob that Joseph was alive, indeed he ruled over all of Egypt. \u201cAnd the spirit of their father Jacob was revived.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fourth Aliyah<\/a>: Jacob and his entire family left Canaan and headed to Egypt. En route they stopped in Beersheba, where G\u2011d told Jacob not to fear going to Egypt, for it is there that he will be made into a great nation. Furthermore G\u2011d told him: \u201cI will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also bring you up.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fifth Aliyah<\/a>: This section names the seventy members of Jacob\u2019s family that went to Egypt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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