1. Yaakov Ovinu makes a great fuss about his being buried in the Cave of Machpayloh, in the Land of Kenaan. Why do you think he does so?
2. Why, do you think, was it necessary for Yaakov to make Yosef, of all people, swear that his wishes to be buried in Kenaan would be carried out?
3. Obviously, Yaakov was unaware that Yosef had already carefully positioned his sons Menasheh and Efrayyim in preparation for Yaakov’s Brochoh. Why, do you think, does Yaakov insist on keeping his hands crossed over even after Yosef respectfully points out to him his mistake?
4. What do we learn from the fact that some of these Brochos don’t seem to be Brochos at all, some even appear to be plain rebuke?
5. Considering these Brochos of Yaakov to his sons, the Founding Fathers of the Tribes of Israel, what, do you think, is the overall message of Yaakov to his sons?
6. Who of all his sons, did not receive a Brocho from Yaakov at all? Why not?
7. Why, do you think, does Yosef weep when the brothers send a deputation in the name of Yaakov asking that he should forgive them for what they did to him so long ago?
8. What is missing from Yosef’s words of comfort to his brothers?
9. What promise does Yosef extract from his brothers before he dies?
10. Considering what a main topic of this Sidra and these Sidra Sheets is, what word would you have expected should be here yet it is not and can you suggest a reason for this?
11. Even though the Sidra and the Haftorah share the same topic, there are some sharp contrasts, too. Can you show one?
12. Which other great people made the same mistake concerning their sons as Dovid did concerning his sons and what were the consequences? What important lesson are we to learn from this?
13. If a Talmid Chochom should wish to forego the honour due to him, he has the right to forego that honour. (If a Talmid Chochom tells us not to stand up for him when he comes into the Beis HaMedrash because he doesn’t want us to interrupt our Torah learning, for instance, he has that right and we do not stand up for him.) But if a Jewish king wishes to forego his honour, we may not listen to him. Why not?
14. Considering what a main topic of this Haftorah and these Haftorah Sheets is, what word would you have expected should be here yet it is not and can you suggest a reason for this?
