V’zos HaBrachah – Page 14 – Peninim on the Torah

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5751, V'zos HaBrachah

“And Moshe went up from the western plains of Moav to Mount Nevo.” (34:1)

Rashi explains that there were many steps to traverse, but Moshe covered that distance with one step. It seems strange that Moshe in the last few moments of his existence would seek to expedite his demise. How did he permit himself to cover that distance in seconds? Had he delayed even a few moments, he may have had the opportunity to perform another mitzvah, or to review another halacha. Is it possible that because of his devotion to honoring and adoring the mitzvah that he would hasten his death? If that is true we can then extrapolate the importance…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5751, V'zos HaBrachah

“And the Bnei Yisroel wept for Moshe.” (34:8)

Rashi explains, regarding Moshe’s death that only the males wept, in contrast to Aharon’s death when all the people mourned. This is because Aharon pursued peace, making peace between man and his follow man, and between husband and wife. It seems puzzling that the Torah should belittle Moshe in its culmination. The Or Hachaim explains that the contrast in mournings was due to Klal Yisroel’s having an immediate successor to Moshe upon his passing. Since they were not left leaderless, the impact of Moshe’s passing was not as noticeable. However, with Aharon’s demise, as his son Elazar replaced him…

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וימת שם משה עבד ד...' על פי ד'

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In V'zos HaBrachah

“So Moshe, servant of Hashem, died there…by the mouth of Hashem.” (34:5)

The Torah ends with Moshe Rabbeinu’s passing from his earthly abode. Others died, but none with such ceremony, with Hashem Yisborach serving as the Chevra Kadisha, Jewish Sacred Burial Society. There are some things in life that are inevitable. Everyone must take leave of this world. When this occurs is up to Hashem. How it occurs is more or less up to us, as we decide the amount of preparation we are willing to do. We are instructed to “repent one day before you die.” Since no one knows his end of time, he should prepare his entire life with teshuvah,…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In V'zos HaBrachah

“Let Reuven live and not die, and let his men be numbered.” (33:6)

Rashi interprets this posuk to mean that let him “live” in this world, and not “die” in the World-to-Come, and that he should be counted among his brothers without any form of disgrace. We may also learn from this posuk that man’s responsibility does not end with the performance and fulfillment of his own personal mitzvos. He is charged to see to it that his children and all those whom he encounters in his daily endeavors also follow the correct path. If he fulfills this mandate, then even when he must take leave of this world, he does not…

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“And Moshe went up from the western plains of Moav to Mount Nevo.” (34:1)

“And the Bnei Yisroel wept for Moshe.” (34:8)

וימת שם משה עבד ד...' על פי ד'

“So Moshe, servant of Hashem, died there…by the mouth of Hashem.” (34:5)

“Let Reuven live and not die, and let his men be numbered.” (33:6)

YEARS

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