Vayechi: Chapter 60

"Binding his foal to the vine," part one

Synopsis

Here we learn that God protects and preserves the deserving in this world and in the next. The soul of he who does not have merit, however, will be dragged to Gehenom by legions of demons. This soul is then delivered to the angel Dumah, who takes it to be locked behind the seven gates of fire. Every Shabbat, the souls in Gehenom are allowed to go to the outer gates, where they meet with other souls that convene there but do not enter Gehenom. It is said that the evil are sentenced to the heat of the burning fire and then the intense cold of snow. Though they first feel relief when they enter the snow, they soon moan again, realizing they are still in Gehenom. The rabbis then explain that the title verse signifies that the children of Yisrael and the Messiah are destined to conquer the idolatrous nations. The Messiah is called "poor,' we are told, because He is drawn from the moon, Malchut, who has no illumination of her own. Proceeding on from this, the discussion turns to the subject of dreams and prophecy. Dreams are of a much lower grade than prophecy and are accessible to all, even the wicked. We learn that Joseph was able to correctly interpret his dream about the Pharaoh's cup of poison. Indeed, we are told that, through the power of the vine, the Female Principle, the heathen nations were subjugated and their force subdued. The discourse then remarks upon the double precepts practiced by the Yisraelites so that they may avoid being sent to Gehenom of snow. Following an explanation of the verse, "She is not afraid of the snow of her household," the section concludes when the rabbis meet a young boy traveling without his former companion.

Relevance

The cleansing power of this passage purifies our souls, helping us to merit a place in the World to Come without having to pass through the gates of Gehenom. The arrival of the Messiah is also quickened, and readers who peruse these verses with a pure heart, help to ensure that the appearance of the Messiah happens in a manner that is merciful for all mankind. In addition, we gain the ability to utilize our sleep and dream states in a fashion that will facilitate our spiritual development.