Chevre, this week’s parsha is וַיְחִי (Vayechi). We have the last Parsha of Beresheit and the end of Yaakov. He brings Yosef’s sons, Ephraim and Menashe, close to give them a blessing. Yaakov and Yosef have this interaction where Yosef wants Yaakov’s right hand (primary bracha) to Ephraim, the younger, but Yosef wanted his right hand on Menashe. One of the blessings that Yaakov gives to Yosef’s sons is one that we bless our children nightly with and we sing together when the children get an Aliyah to the Torah on Simchat Torah. Yaakov insists that the younger will be greater than the elder. This is a theme throughout the book and Judaism, Yaakov and Esav, Yitchak and Yishmael, Moshe and Aharon (coming soon, stay tuned). Yaakov then goes through all the brothers or tribes and gives them “blessings”. Some of the blessings don’t really seem like they are. Finally, Yaakov passes and is buried in Hevron as part of a long Egyptian procession.
As a TAM (Technical Account Manager) and previously as a system/network engineer, continuity is important. And the customers being able to understand how their systems area built including CI/CD pipelines are critical. Unfortunately, there have been a number of times that folks leave positions, companies, or this world and it takes others considerable time and effort to understand how their systems are built and operate. Due everyone a favor and make documentation an integral part of your operations BEFORE the system goes live.
Shabbat Shalom.
As a side note, I will be running the 1/2 Marathon in Jerusalem after Purim (toward the end of March). My father challenged me to it, and he’ll be coming out and running it with me. Recently, we realized that it will also be the 20th yahrzeit (anniversary of her passing) on the day of the race. To help commemorate her memory and give back, we are raising tzedaka (charity) for the Joslin Clinic, where she spent some time learning about the disease that eventually took her from us. Please consider sharing in our simcha of running together and elevating her memory by contributing. Thank you.
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/shlomo-dubrowin
Vayechi - 2023