V’zos HaBrachah – Page 5 – Peninim on the Torah

האומר לאביו ולאמו לא ראיתיו ואת אחיו לא הכיר ואת בניו לא ידע כי שמרו אמרתך ובריתך ינצורו

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5773, V'zos HaBrachah

The one who said of his father and mother, “I have not favored him”; his brothers he did not give recognition and his children he did not know; for they (the Leviim) have observed Your word and Your covenant they preserved. (33:9)

As Moshe Rabbeinu prepared to bless Shevet Levi, he characterized it according to the unusual qualities and virtues of the people. He related their unwavering devotion to the Almighty, their consummate ability to withstand and triumph over the most difficult challenges – all because of their intense fealty to Hashem. Nothing stood in their way – not even their most personal commitments. Their commitment to Hashem transcended everything. This quality was evinced during the sin of the Golden Calf when Moshe declared, Mi l’Hashem elai – “Whoever is for Hashem, join me!” (Shemos 32:26). Shevet Levi came forth in unison,…

Home -> V'zos HaBrachah -> 5773

שמח זבולן בצאתך ויששכר באהלך

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5773, V'zos HaBrachah

Rejoice, O’ Zevulun, in your excursions, and Yissachar in your tent. (33:18)

The definition of a good life is relative. Clearly, there are those who have very few material comforts, yet they never complain. After all, they do not sense a need for anything more than what they have. In contrast, there are those who seem to have everything, but it is never enough. Yissachar and Zevulun characterize a utopian approach to Torah living. Yissachar devotes all of his time to Torah study. His material needs are addressed by his devoted brother, Zevulun, whose day is spent toiling in the world of commerce. Why is this considered utopia? Zevulun understands the need…

Home -> V'zos HaBrachah -> 5772

תורה צוה לנו משה מורשה קהלת יעקב

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5772, V'zos HaBrachah

The Torah that Moshe commanded us is the heritage of the Congregation of Yaakov. (33:4)

This pasuk, which claims that the Torah is our morashah, heritage, seems to contradict Rabbi Yossi’s statement in Pirkei Avos 2:12, “And prepare yourself to study the Torah, for it does not come to you by inheritance.” Is it a yerushah – or not? Horav Meir Lehmann, zl, Rav of Mainz, Germany, explains that, indeed, the Torah is the heritage of the community of Yaakov – but not an inheritance of the individual Jew. The Torah belonging to the Jewish community at large will never be lost, for there will always be men who will see to it that it…

Home -> V'zos HaBrachah -> 5772

ויהי בישורון מלך בהתאסף ראשי עם יחד שבטי ישראל

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5772, V'zos HaBrachah

He became King over Yeshurun when the numbers of the nations gathered – the tribes of Yisrael in unity. (32:5)

Hashem is Klal Yisrael’s King in the fullest sense only when the nation acts like a klal, united in each individual’s conviction and obedience to carry out His will. When we received the Torah at Har Sinai it was amidst ish echad b’lev echad, “One man with one heart.” The nation was unified as one. We pray for that day to return. Unity among Jews is all-important. Without it, we cannot exist as a nation under G-d. Great tzaddikim have gone out of their way to promote achdus, unity. Horav Moshe Epstein, zl, the Admor of Ozrov, was a well-known…

Home -> V'zos HaBrachah -> 5772

וזאת ליהודה ויאמר שמע ד' קול יהודה ואל עמו תביאנו ידיו רב לו ועזר מצריו תהיה

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5772, V'zos HaBrachah

And this to Yehudah, and he said, “Listen, O’ Hashem to Yehudah’s voice, and return him to his people; may his hands fight his grievance and may You be a helper against his enemies.” (33:7)

The Talmud Sotah 7b, teaches that, during all of the years that the Jewish People sojourned in the wilderness, the bones of Yehudah were rolling around in his coffin. Moshe Rabbeinu then prayed on his soul’s behalf. He entreated Hashem, saying, “Who caused Reuven to confess – if not Yehudah?” Immediately, Hashem listened. Yehudah’s bones came to rest, but they were not permitted to enter into the Yeshivah Shel Maalah, Heavenly Academy. Moshe prayed again, requesting, “And return him to his people.” Hashem listened, and Yehudah’s neshamah entered the Yeshivah. He was unable, however, to establish a Torah dialogue with…

Home -> V'zos HaBrachah -> 5772

האומר לאביו ולאמו לא ראיתיו ואת אחיו לא הכיר ואת בנו לא ידע

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5772, V'zos HaBrachah

The one who has said of his father and mother, “I have not favored him”; his brothers he did not give recognition, and his children he did not know.” (33:9)

As Moshe Rabbeinu blesses Shevet Levi, he details their qualities and the perfection of their souls, which they exhibited while standing up for the Glory of Hashem and His Torah. They withstood enormous challenges to their spiritual persona and emerged better people, to the point that their individual personal lives had no meaning to them. They lived for Hashem. When Moshe stood in the midst of the Jewish camp following the tragic sin of the Golden Calf, he called out, Mi l’Hashem eilai! “Who is for Hashem should come forward and stand by me!” It was the tribe of Levi…

Home -> V'zos HaBrachah -> 5771

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5771, V'zos HaBrachah

“The Torah that Moshe commanded us is the heritage of the Congregation of Yaakov.” (33:4)

This pasuk, which claims that the Torah is our morashah, heritage, seems to contradict Rabbi Yossi’s statement in Pirkei Avos 2:12, “And prepare yourself to study the Torah, for it does not come to you by inheritance.” Is it a yerushah – or not? Horav Meir Lehmann, zl, Rav of Mainz, Germany, (1850’s-1890) explains that indeed, the Torah is the heritage of the community of Yaakov – but not an inheritance of the individual Jew. The Torah belonging to the Jewish community-at-large will never be lost. There will always be men who will see to it that it is transmitted…

Home -> V'zos HaBrachah -> 5771

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5771, V'zos HaBrachah

He became King over Yeshurun when the numbers of the nations gathered – the tribes of Yisrael in unity. (32:5)

Hashem is Klal Yisrael’s King in the fullest sense only when the nation acts like a klal, united in each individual’s conviction and obedience to carry out His Will. When we received the Torah at Har Sinai it was as ish echad b’lev echad, “One man with one heart.” The nation was unified as one. We pray for that day to return. Unity among Jews is all-important. Without it, we cannot exist as a nation under G-d. Great tzaddikim have gone out of their way to promote achdus, unity. Horav Moshe Epstein, zl, the Admor of Ozrov, was a well-known…

Home -> V'zos HaBrachah -> 5771

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5771, V'zos HaBrachah

And this to Yehudah, and he said, “Listen, O’ Hashem to Yehudah’s voice, and return him to his people; may his hands fight for him and may You be a Helper against his enemies.” (33:7)

The Talmud Sotah 7b, teaches that, during all of the years that the Jewish People sojourned in the Wilderness, the bones of Yehudah were rolling around in his coffin. Moshe Rabbeinu then prayed on his soul’s behalf. He entreated Hashem, saying, “Who caused Reuven to confess – if not Yehudah?” Immediately, Hashem listened. Yehudah’s bones came to rest, but they were not permitted to enter into the Yeshivah Shel Maalah, Heavenly Academy. Moshe prayed again, requesting, “And return/bring him to his people.” Hashem listened, and Yehudah’s neshamah entered the Yeshivah. He was unable, however, to establish a Torah dialogue with…

Home -> V'zos HaBrachah -> 5771

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5771, V'zos HaBrachah

The one who said of his father and mother, “I have not seen/favored him”; his brothers he did not recognize and his children he did not know.” (33:9)

As Moshe Rabbeinu blesses Shevet Levi, he details their qualities and the perfection of their souls, which they exhibited while standing up for the Glory of Hashem and His Torah. They withstood enormous challenges to their spiritual persona and emerged better people, to the point that their individual personal lives had no meaning to them. They lived for Hashem. When Moshe stood in the midst of the Jewish camp following the tragic sin of the Golden Calf, he called out, Mi l’Hashem eilai! “Who is for Hashem should come forward and stand by me!” It was the tribe of Levi…

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האומר לאביו ולאמו לא ראיתיו ואת אחיו לא הכיר ואת בניו לא ידע כי שמרו אמרתך ובריתך ינצורו

The one who said of his father and mother, “I have not favored him”; his brothers he did not give recognition and his children he did not know; for they (the Leviim) have observed Your word and Your covenant they preserved. (33:9)

שמח זבולן בצאתך ויששכר באהלך

Rejoice, O’ Zevulun, in your excursions, and Yissachar in your tent. (33:18)

תורה צוה לנו משה מורשה קהלת יעקב

The Torah that Moshe commanded us is the heritage of the Congregation of Yaakov. (33:4)

ויהי בישורון מלך בהתאסף ראשי עם יחד שבטי ישראל

He became King over Yeshurun when the numbers of the nations gathered – the tribes of Yisrael in unity. (32:5)

וזאת ליהודה ויאמר שמע ד' קול יהודה ואל עמו תביאנו ידיו רב לו ועזר מצריו תהיה

And this to Yehudah, and he said, “Listen, O’ Hashem to Yehudah’s voice, and return him to his people; may his hands fight his grievance and may You be a helper against his enemies.” (33:7)

האומר לאביו ולאמו לא ראיתיו ואת אחיו לא הכיר ואת בנו לא ידע

The one who has said of his father and mother, “I have not favored him”; his brothers he did not give recognition, and his children he did not know.” (33:9)

“The Torah that Moshe commanded us is the heritage of the Congregation of Yaakov.” (33:4)

He became King over Yeshurun when the numbers of the nations gathered – the tribes of Yisrael in unity. (32:5)

And this to Yehudah, and he said, “Listen, O’ Hashem to Yehudah’s voice, and return him to his people; may his hands fight for him and may You be a Helper against his enemies.” (33:7)

The one who said of his father and mother, “I have not seen/favored him”; his brothers he did not recognize and his children he did not know.” (33:9)

YEARS

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