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Weekly Torah portion · Genesis
Vayeshev וישב
Genesis 37:1-40:23
Vayeshev (“He Settled”) begins the story of Joseph, describing his rivalry with his brothers, slavery in Egypt, and imprisonment after his master’s wife frames him in response to Joseph’s refusal of her advances. It also contains the story of Tamar, her husbands, and her father-in-law, Judah.
Summary: Sefaria
How it begins
וַיֵּשֶׁב יַעֲקֹב בְּאֶרֶץ מְגוּרֵי אָבִיו בְּאֶרֶץ כְּנָעַן׃
37:1 And Jacob dwelt in the land of his father’s sojournings, in the land of Canaan.
אֵלֶּה תֹּלְדוֹת יַעֲקֹב יוֹסֵף בֶּן־שְׁבַע־עֶשְׂרֵה שָׁנָה הָיָה רֹעֶה אֶת־אֶחָיו בַּצֹּאן וְהוּא נַעַר אֶת־בְּנֵי בִלְהָה וְאֶת־בְּנֵי זִלְפָּה נְשֵׁי אָבִיו וַיָּבֵא יוֹסֵף אֶת־דִּבָּתָם רָעָה אֶל־אֲבִיהֶם׃
37:2 These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren, being still a lad even with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives; and Joseph brought evil report of them unto their father.
וְיִשְׂרָאֵל אָהַב אֶת־יוֹסֵף מִכָּל־בָּנָיו כִּי־בֶן־זְקֻנִים הוּא לוֹ וְעָשָׂה לוֹ כְּתֹנֶת פַּסִּים׃
37:3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age; and he made him a coat of many colours.
Genesis 37:1–3 · Hebrew: Tanach with Nikkud · English: JPS 1917 · public domain, via Sefaria
Seven daily readings
The portion is traditionally split into seven parts (aliyot), one for each day of the week.
- Part 1Genesis 37:1-37:11
- Part 2Genesis 37:12-37:22
- Part 3Genesis 37:23-37:36
- Part 4Genesis 38:1-38:30
- Part 5Genesis 39:1-39:6
- Part 6Genesis 39:7-39:23
- Part 7Genesis 40:1-40:23
When it’s read
- Diaspora: December 5, 2026, December 25, 2027
- Israel: December 5, 2026, December 25, 2027
Dates: Hebcal. Some years two portions are read together.