V’zos HaBrachah – Peninim on the Torah

ומשה בן מאה ועשרים שנה במתו

Moshe was one hundred and twenty years old when he died. (34:2)

In Parashah Vayeilech, on the last day of his life, Moshe Rabbeinu says, “I am a hundred and twenty years old today.” It was Moshe’s birthday – Adar 7; he died on his birthday. Chazal (Sotah 13b) teach, “Hashem completes the years of the righteous from day to day and from month to month.” The righteous will live out their years fully. Hashem sees to it that the righteous live complete lives, even if their birth and death dates do not coincide. Amalei, “I will fulfill,” means that the tzadik will not die before his time; only once his goal…

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לא ידע איש את קברתו

Sruly Schnair In 5787, V'zos HaBrachah

And no one knows of his grave. (34:6)

Chazal (Sotah 14A) teach that the evil Roman monarchy sent messengers to the people of Bais Pe’or with the request that they show them where Moshe Rabbeinu is buried. As the men stood above on the upper section of the mountain, it appeared to them as if the grave were below in the lower section. As they stood below, it appeared to them that it was in the upper section. They then divided into two groups – one above and one below. Once again, each group thought they saw the grave on the opposite side. This fulfilled the statement that…

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ויעל משה מערקת מואב אל הר נבו

Sruly Schnair In 5787, V'zos HaBrachah

And Moshe went up from the plains of Moav to Har Navo. (34:1)

Chazal (Sotah 13b) teach that one had to climb twelve steps to ascend the mountain. Moshe Rabbeinu could have taken his time ascending those steps, during which time he would have lived longer. However, Hashem had issued His command that Moshe ascend the mountain. Thus, he climbed up all twelve steps in one step/leap. One can imagine that, having lived a perfect life serving Hashem, Moshe would contemplate: How can I serve Hashem just a little bit longer? Not Moshe. His concern was, “How can I serve Hashem better?” If the Almighty wants Moshe on top of the mountain, then…

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ויקבר אתו בגי

Sruly Schnair In 5786, V'zos HaBrachah

And He buried him in the depression. (34:6)

According to one exposition of Rashi, the Torah alludes to the idea that Moshe Rabbenu buried himself. Nothing is above Hashem and His relationship with Moshe. Indeed, we have no manner of fathoming our leader’s greatness. Thus, burying himself, although certainly possible, is a concept that eludes us. Perhaps, the following story might shed some light on this idea. While no mortal can possibly bury himself, he could perform acts of kindness that earn him a place of burial which, for all intents and purposes, would have otherwise probably not have occurred, as was the case in the following story….

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ויקבר אתו בגי

Sruly Schnair In 5786, V'zos HaBrachah

And He buried him in the depression. (34:6)

Moshe Rabbeinu received the ultimate reward of having Hashem attend to his death and burial. Our leader led an extraordinary life, one that established a standard for how a Jew should live. He confronted challenges, overcame personal loss, dealt with a mutiny and overcame his own physical speech impediment. He reached the epitome of service to Hashem and to his people. On Simchas Torah, we read of his mortal passing, as we conclude the annual cycle of reading the Torah. On what should be the happiest day of the year, celebrating another year of Torah study, we record the death…

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ולזבולון אמר שמח זבולון בצאתך ויששכר באהליך

Sruly Schnair In 5786, V'zos HaBrachah

To Zevulun, he said: Zevulun, rejoice in your going out; and Yissachar, in your tents. (33:18)

Apparently, Moshe Rabbeinu’s preferred style for conferring blessing differed from that of Yaakov Avinu. Our Patriarch showered his sons with long, flowery blessings. Moshe, on the other hand, sufficed with brevity. Yaakov’s blessing to Dan consisted of two pesukim, while Moshe’s a mere five words. Zevulun and Yissachar’s blessing from the Patriarch was a litany of three pesukim. Moshe’s blessing to Zevulun was not short, but the blessing he conferred upon Yissachar was a single word: B’ahalecha, “(You shall rejoice) in your tents.” On the surface we may suggest that Yaakov was addressing his sons. Thus, he did not rush…

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וזאת הברכה אשר ברך משה

Sruly Schnair In 5786, V'zos HaBrachah

And this is the blessing that Moshe bestowed. (33:1)

Torah leaders are fundamentally people with the same drives and emotions as the common man. They just exert greater control over what might sway them away from the Torah way. They live as we do. They love their children and are willing to sacrifice for them, just as we are. Their extraordinary control — born of a deep, abiding love for Hashem and His Torah — impels them to a higher plane. When Horav Meshullam David Soloveitchik, zl, married, it was an incredibly joyous affair, but also physically demanding. Therefore, after the chuppah, the Brisker Rav, zl, father of the…

Home -> V'zos HaBrachah -> 5785

ויקבר אתו בגי

Sruly Schnair In 5785, V'zos HaBrachah

And He buried him in the depression. (34:6)

According to one exposition of Rashi, the Torah alludes to the idea that Moshe Rabbenu buried himself. Nothing is above Hashem and His relationship with Moshe. Indeed, we have no manner of fathoming our leader’s greatness. Thus, burying himself, although certainly possible, is a concept that eludes us. Perhaps, the following story might shed some light on this idea. While no mortal can possibly bury himself, he could perform acts of kindness that earn him a place of burial which, for all intents and purposes, would have otherwise probably not have occurred, as was the case in the following story….

Home -> V'zos HaBrachah -> 5785

ויקבר אתו בגי

Sruly Schnair In 5785, V'zos HaBrachah

And He buried him in the depression. (34:6)

Moshe Rabbeinu received the ultimate reward of having Hashem attend to his death and burial. Our leader led an extraordinary life, one that established a standard for how a Jew should live. He confronted challenges, overcame personal loss, dealt with a mutiny and overcame his own physical speech impediment. He reached the epitome of service to Hashem and to his people. On Simchas Torah, we read of his mortal passing, as we conclude the annual cycle of reading the Torah. On what should be the happiest day of the year, celebrating another year of Torah study, we record the death…

Home -> V'zos HaBrachah -> 5785

ולזבולון אמר שמח זבולון בצאתך ויששכר באהליך

Sruly Schnair In 5785, V'zos HaBrachah

To Zevulun, he said: Zevulun, rejoice in your going out; and Yissachar, in your tents. (33:18)

Apparently, Moshe Rabbeinu’s preferred style for conferring blessing differed from that of Yaakov Avinu. Our Patriarch showered his sons with long, flowery blessings. Moshe, on the other hand, sufficed with brevity. Yaakov’s blessing to Dan consisted of two pesukim, while Moshe’s a mere five words. Zevulun and Yissachar’s blessing from the Patriarch was a litany of three pesukim. Moshe’s blessing to Zevulun was not short, but the blessing he conferred upon Yissachar was a single word: B’ahalecha, “(You shall rejoice) in your tents.” On the surface we may suggest that Yaakov was addressing his sons. Thus, he did not rush…

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ומשה בן מאה ועשרים שנה במתו

Moshe was one hundred and twenty years old when he died. (34:2)

לא ידע איש את קברתו

And no one knows of his grave. (34:6)

ויעל משה מערקת מואב אל הר נבו

And Moshe went up from the plains of Moav to Har Navo. (34:1)

ויקבר אתו בגי

And He buried him in the depression. (34:6)

ויקבר אתו בגי

And He buried him in the depression. (34:6)

ולזבולון אמר שמח זבולון בצאתך ויששכר באהליך

To Zevulun, he said: Zevulun, rejoice in your going out; and Yissachar, in your tents. (33:18)

וזאת הברכה אשר ברך משה

And this is the blessing that Moshe bestowed. (33:1)

ויקבר אתו בגי

And He buried him in the depression. (34:6)

ויקבר אתו בגי

And He buried him in the depression. (34:6)

ולזבולון אמר שמח זבולון בצאתך ויששכר באהליך

To Zevulun, he said: Zevulun, rejoice in your going out; and Yissachar, in your tents. (33:18)

YEARS

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