In the Sabbath Parasha Vayigash (ויגש = and he approached), Genesis 44:18 – 47:27, the family of Jacob, united and appeased, gathers and settles in the region of Goshen, where they thrive. In the haftarah, Ezekiel (37:15-28) prophesies a unified Israel and the gathering of the dispersed tribes, their purification, and their return to their land.
Genesis 47:27
וישב ישראל בארץ מצרים בארץ גשן ויאחזו בה ויפרו וירבו מאד
Israel dwelt in the land of Egypt, in the region of Goshen,
and they acquired possessions there, were fruitful, and multiplied greatly.
Here, “Israel” refers to the people. Although the verb “dwelt” (ישב) is singular, the other verbs in the verse are in the plural, suggesting that the people lived in unity, and all of them acquired property, were fruitful, and prospered.
Welcome to Goshen!
Today, the city of Goshen in the state of New York is a gathering place for the Jewish community. The Chabad movement has transformed the city’s former library into a community center offering a variety of services to the local Jewish community and tourists visiting the city’s Legoland park (1).
(1) In the Legoland park in Goshen, one can find a pyramid, a sphinx, and an obelisk, which are the main symbols of Egypt.