5753

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5753, V'zos HaBrachah

“And there died Moshe, servant of Hashem . . . and no man knows his grave unto this day.” (34:5,6)

It seems strange that the life of the pre-eminent leader of Klal Yisrael came to an end with so little attention directed to it. Indeed, the appellation used to describe the essence of the man who achieved the apotheosis of spiritual leadership is simply ‘s scg, the servant of Hashem. Horav S.R. Hirsch, z.l., explains that, in fact, this characterization of Moshe represents the ultimate tribute to him. Moshe’s entire life was devoted to Hashem and His people. He was an “eved Hashem,” servant of Hashem, in the truest sense of the word. He achieved total self-abnegation, so that his…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5753, V'zos HaBrachah

“And Moshe died there.” (34:5)

The Zohar Ha’kadosh states that Moshe Rabbeinu died on Shabbos at Minchah time. Similarly, according to the Zohar, Yosef Ha’tzaddik and David Ha’melech also died on Shabbos during Minchah time. It is specifically for this reason that we recite three pesukim which begin with the word l,esm, Your righteousness, as a form of ihsv eusm, which constitutes acceptance of Hashem’s judgement at this time. Horav Nissan Alpert, z.l., questions the reference to the time of Moshe’s death. The Torah states that Moshe told Bnei Yisrael, “I am one hundred and twenty years old today.” This implies that Moshe reached this…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5753, V'zos HaBrachah

“And Moshe died there.” (34:5)

The Zohar Ha’kadosh states that Moshe Rabbeinu died on Shabbos at Minchah time. Similarly, according to the Zohar, Yosef Ha’tzaddik and David Ha’melech also died on Shabbos during Minchah time. It is specifically for this reason that we recite three pesukim which begin with the word l,esm, Your righteousness, as a form of ihsv eusm, which constitutes acceptance of Hashem’s judgement at this time. Horav Nissan Alpert, z.l., questions the reference to the time of Moshe’s death. The Torah states that Moshe told Bnei Yisrael, “I am one hundred and twenty years old today.” This implies that Moshe reached this…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5753, V'zos HaBrachah

“And to Zevulun he said: Rejoice Zevulun in your going out, and, Yissachar, rejoice in your tents.” (33:18)

The Yissachar-Zevulun relationship was truly unique. Indeed, Moshe blessed these two brothers concurrently, since Zevulun, who engaged in commerce, split his earnings with Yissachar, who devoted his time to Torah study. The Zohar Ha’kadosh explains that Yissachar and Zevulun shared equally. Zevulun shared his material abundance with Yissachar, while Yissachar enabled Zevulun to receive a portion in the World to Come. This “equality,” however, seems puzzling. Is there any way to compare the eternal bliss of Olam Ha’bah to the limited material benefits of Olam Ha’zeh? Why, then, is this viewed as a parallel partnership? Horav Ch. Elazary, z.l., explains…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5753, V'zos HaBrachah

“Who said of his father and of his mother ‘I have not seen him’ neither did he acknowledge his brothers.” (33:9)

Rashi explains that the terms “father” and “brother” used in the pasuk does not refer to the Levi’s real father or brother, since no member of the tribe of Levi had sinned. He, therefore, suggests that these terms refer to their mother’s father or a brother from the same mother who, in either case, was a Yisrael. If this is the case, why does the Torah emphasize the words father and brother? Horav Nissan Alpert, z.l., suggests the following thought. The Leviim killed the sinners because of their zealousness for the sake of Hashem’s Name. One might hypothesize that they…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5753, V'zos HaBrachah

“Hashem came from Sinai, and rose from Se’ir unto them; He shined forth from Har Paran.” (33:2)

Chazal derive from this pasuk that Hashem offered every nation on earth the opportunity to receive the Torah, only to receive a rejection from all of them. Why, then, does the Torah mention only two nations, Se’ir and Paran, the descendants of Eisav and Yishmael, respectively? Horav Z. Sorotzkin, z.l., suggests the following explanation. Yishmael and Eisav had the opportunity to learn Torah and mitzvos from their parents. Yishmael spent his youth in Avraham’s home, while Eisav was able to study from both his father, Yitzchak, and his grandfather, Avraham. Because the background of Eisav’s children was more firmly infused…

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YEARS

“And there died Moshe, servant of Hashem . . . and no man knows his grave unto this day.” (34:5,6)

“And Moshe died there.” (34:5)

“And Moshe died there.” (34:5)

“And to Zevulun he said: Rejoice Zevulun in your going out, and, Yissachar, rejoice in your tents.” (33:18)

“Who said of his father and of his mother ‘I have not seen him’ neither did he acknowledge his brothers.” (33:9)

“Hashem came from Sinai, and rose from Se’ir unto them; He shined forth from Har Paran.” (33:2)

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