In reality, one needs to look no further than the placement of the first words of this parsha, "Vayechi Yaakov" to find something distinct and unusual about this parsha compared to the other 53. There are generally three ways in which the Torah delineates and divides between its sections: 1) With a space, a minimum of nine letters width between its sections, 2) With a new line (similar to a new paragraph), and 3) With a multi-line space which is reserved for a division between the five books of the Torah. The beginning of Parshat Vayechi is the only parsha which is "closed" and thus there is no spacing between it and the end of the previous parsha, Vayigash.  Rashi offers two answers for this fact. First, he notes that as soon as Yaakov passed away, the eyes and hearts of his descendants were "closed" (i.e. it became dark for them) because of the misery and slavery that the Egyptians brought upon them. Another explanation, he offers, is that Yaakov attempted to reveal the end of the exile to his sons but it was "closed off" (concealed) from him.  

The Midrash Ha-bi'ur notes that the "closed" introduction to the parsha suggests that the Torah does not like to publicize the death of a righteous person. Although it appears that the death of Yaakov seems to constitute the primary theme of the parsha. It's ironic that we refer to this "closed" section as "Vayechi Yaakov- Yaakov lived." In the Gemora, Ta'anit 5b, it says, "Yaakov Avinu lo met - Yaakov our father never died." What exactly does it mean when it says our father Yaakov never died? 

The Rashba, a leading authority in Spain during the 13th century, noted that Yaakov stood apart from Avraham and Yitzchak in that all of his children followed in his example of piety and helped to form into Hashem's chosen people.  The piety of all twelve of Yaakov's sons testified to Yaakov's spiritual completeness, such that spiritually speaking, he never "died." According to the Abarbanel, 15th century Portugal and Italy, Yaakov's eternal life is manifest in the fact that our nation "Bnei Yisroel" bears his name. As Am Yisroel which descends from the entirety of Yaakov's household is eternal, so is Yaakov. Therefore, the parsha that is devoted to his death quite appropriately bears the title,"Vayechi Yaakov"- "Yaakov lived. "

 The schools competing were Kushner, Frisch, TABC, Ma'ayanot, YUHSG, Shalhevet, SAR, DRS and SKA. Baruch notes, "I am happy to say poetry has a bright future."  

Cats have four digits on each foot. Bears have five. The students compared their own hands with the animal paws.  Students have five digits on each hand like the bear, but unlike the bear's, our digits aren't all bunched together in a line. We have thumbs that stick out to the side. Our thumbs are 'opposable.' To understand what this means, the students created a cat's paw with four child-sized digits, all next to each other. Chimpanzees also have opposable thumbs and big toes, as do gorillas and orangutans. Note that chimpanzees, gorillas, and orangutans are apes, not monkeys. Monkeys have tails. Apes do not.

Extraneous tangent: When Curious George gets in trouble and starts running away and people are chasing him and yelling, "Stop that monkey! Stop that monkey!" he never stops. George does not have a tail. He's an ape, not a monkey. Maybe that's why he keeps on running. 

-Morah Elaine

This is what we do during lock down - family style Oneg! 

• Rabbi Daniel Yolkut: Fresh Looks at Familiar Stories: Chumash through the eyes of Rav Yaakov Medan Wednesday 1:30 pm - 2:15 pm
• Rabbi Oren Levy: Introduction to Talmud Monday 8:30 pm -9:15 pm
• Rabbi Wasserman on Navi: The Book of Joshua - Mondays from 8:15 am until 9 am, main office.