V’zos HaBrachah – Page 7 – Peninim on the Torah

ולא ידע איש את קבורתו

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5768, V'zos HaBrachah

And no man knows his burial place.(34:6)

Much has been written by the commentators to explain the meaning of the above pasuk. The Talmud Sotah 14a states that the word ish, man, is a reference to Moshe Rabbeinu himself, who is referred to as ish haElokim, man of G-d. Thus, the pasuk is teaching us that even Moshe did not know where he was buried. The Ben Yehoyada explains this based upon the Mishnah in Pirkei Avos 5:6, which lists Moshe’s grave as one of the ten things created during bein ha’shemashos, twilight of the sixth day of Creation. The grave is included among other preeminent miraculous…

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ויבכו בני ישראל את משה

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5768, V'zos HaBrachah

Bnei Yisrael bewailed Moshe. (34:8)

Rashi notes that only the men wept for Moshe. This is indicated by the term Bnei Yisrael, sons of Yisrael, implying the male population. In recording the death of Aharon HaKohen, however, the Torah writes, “the entire House of Yisrael [wept for him]” (Bamidbar 20:29), which includes both men and women. Rashi explains that Aharon loved and pursued peace, creating harmony between husband and wife and man and his fellowman. His relationship with the common man was more “common.” He was constantly with them, promoting peace. As the king, leader and quintessential rebbe of the entire Jewish People, the relationship…

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ולכל היד החזקה ולכל המורא הגדול אשר עשה משה לעיני כל ישראל

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5768, V'zos HaBrachah

And for all the strong hand. (34:12)

The Torah closes with a brief note of praise for the prophetic powers of Moshe Rabbeinu. Since his epitaph is “his strong hand,” a reference to his breaking the Luchos, Tablets, upon which were inscribed the Ten Commandments, it seems that this brave act was the climax of Moshe’s entire existence. Horav Eliyahu Munk, zl, perceives the lesson it conveys: A forceful, authoritative, gesture by a responsible leader can have a far greater beneficial effect than all of the preaching about orders or discipline. Moshe’s angry reaction instantly succeeded in setting the record straight. The people were in a quandary,…

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ולכל היד החזקה ולכל המורא הגדול אשר עשה משה לעיני כל ישראל

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5767, V'zos HaBrachah

And by all the strong hand and by all the awesome power that Moshe performed before the eyes of all Yisrael. (34:12)

Rashi explains that the “strong hand” is a reference to Moshe Rabbeinu accepting the Luchos from Hashem in his hands. Although the Luchos were of extraordinary weight, Moshe was able to carry them. “Before the eyes of all Yisrael” refers to Moshe’s decision to break the Luchos in the presence of the entire nation, when he was confronted with the sin of the Golden Calf. Hashem ratified his action, as Chazal say, Yeyasher kochacha sheh’sheebarta, Hashem “thanked” him for breaking the Luchos. We wonder if it had really been necessary for Moshe to break the Luchos. Why did he not…

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ולכל היד החזקה ולכל המורא הגדול אשר עשה משה לעיני כל ישראל

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5767, V'zos HaBrachah

And by all the strong hand and by all the awesome power that Moshe performed before the eyes of all Yisrael. (34:12)

This is a nice ending to the Torah that Hashem gave to Klal Yisrael through Moshe Rabbeinu. In fact, this pasuk, describing Moshe’s shattering of the Luchos, serves as the quintessential leader’s epitaph, his greatest moment, and most significant achievement. What about the Jewish People? It is not very comforting to know that the Torah ends with their iniquity. Is it really that important to conclude the Torah with a recap of one of the most serious errors in Jewish history? Horav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach, zl, suggests that, in effect, this conclusion to the Torah is far from a critique…

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ולכל היד החזקה ולכל המורא הגדול אשר עשה משה לעיני כל ישראל

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5767, V'zos HaBrachah

And by all the strong hand and by all the awesome power that Moshe performed before the eyes of all Yisrael. (34:12)

The concluding pasuk of the Torah describes Moshe Rabbeinu’s greatest feat as the quintessential leader of Klal Yisrael and its consummate rebbe. His acceptance of the Luchos in his two hands and his subsequent shattering of them in the presence of the entire Jewish nation – because he felt that their sin concerning the Golden Calf negated the message of the Luchos – are considered Moshe’s greatest moments, the epitaph by which he is to be remembered. Moshe lived an incredible life of dedication to Hashem and to His nation. He achieved a position of leadership unparalleled, yet, he is…

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שמע ה' קול יהודה

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5766, V'zos HaBrachah

Hearken, O’Hashem, to Yehudah’s voice. (33:7)

Shimon did not receive an individual blessing. This was the result of the involvement of the tribe of Shimon in the Shittim tragedy, when their Nasi, Prince, Zimri, had illicit relations with Kozbi, the Midyanite princess, and they supported him. Therefore, Moshe Rabbeinu concealed Shimon’s blessing within Yehudah’s by using the word shema, listen. The root of the name Shimon is also shema, hear, as Leah Imeinu said when she named Shimon: Shama Hashem b’anyi, “Hashem heard my affliction” (Bereishis 29:33). Shimon’s tribe received a portion in Eretz Yisrael, but the Torah does not refer to it as “Shimon’s portion.”…

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וימת שם משה עבד ד'

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5766, V'zos HaBrachah

And Moshe, the servant of Hashem, died there. (34:5)

In the Talmud Sotah 13b, Chazal describe Moshe Rabbeinu’s funeral: Moshe lay within the Kanfei ha’Shechinah, folds of the raiment of the splendor of the Divine Presence… The angels lamented his loss. Hashem’s “eulogy” for His trusted servant began with the pasuk in Tehillim 94:16, “Who will rise up for Me against the doers of iniquity?” This seems enigmatic. A eulogy begins with and revolves around the most significant virtue, the primary aspect of the deceased’s character, or his most prominent contribution to society. Was this Moshe’s greatest quality? We find Moshe lauded as the most humble of men, the…

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ויקבר אותו בגי

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5766, V'zos HaBrachah

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

In Sotah 14a, the Talmud notes that the Torah begins with an act of chesed, kindness, and likewise concludes with an act of chesed. The Torah begins with Hashem fashioning kosnos or, garments of skin, for Adam and Chavah. It ends with Hashem burying Moshe Rabbeinu’s mortal remains. It is noteworthy that Chazal select the kosnos or to serve as the example of Hashem’s chesed. What is there about these garments or the act of clothing Adam and Chavah that stands out, making it more prominent than even the entire universe? Olam chesed yibaneh, “The world is built upon chesed/kindness”…

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ולא קם נביא עוד בישראל כמשה...ולכל היד החזקה...אשר עשה משה לעיני כל ישראל

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5766, V'zos HaBrachah

And no prophet has arisen in Yisrael like Moshe… and for all the mighty hand… that Moshe performed before the eyes of all Yisrael. (34:10,12)

Moshe Rabbeinu was the quintessential leader of the Jewish People. His epitaph is stated in the last verses of the Torah, where he is lauded as the greatest Prophet in Yisrael who was the conduit for Hashem’s miraculous signs and wonders, which revealed Hashem in His Almighty power. Moshe displayed his “mighty hand,” the hand that would not brook any impudence from within – any form of deviation that would alienate his people from the truth. Moshe received the Torah from Hashem with his own hands. His hands were unique, representing an individual who had reached the epitome of service to…

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ולא ידע איש את קבורתו

And no man knows his burial place.(34:6)

ויבכו בני ישראל את משה

Bnei Yisrael bewailed Moshe. (34:8)

ולכל היד החזקה ולכל המורא הגדול אשר עשה משה לעיני כל ישראל

And for all the strong hand. (34:12)

ולכל היד החזקה ולכל המורא הגדול אשר עשה משה לעיני כל ישראל

And by all the strong hand and by all the awesome power that Moshe performed before the eyes of all Yisrael. (34:12)

ולכל היד החזקה ולכל המורא הגדול אשר עשה משה לעיני כל ישראל

And by all the strong hand and by all the awesome power that Moshe performed before the eyes of all Yisrael. (34:12)

ולכל היד החזקה ולכל המורא הגדול אשר עשה משה לעיני כל ישראל

And by all the strong hand and by all the awesome power that Moshe performed before the eyes of all Yisrael. (34:12)

שמע ה' קול יהודה

Hearken, O’Hashem, to Yehudah’s voice. (33:7)

וימת שם משה עבד ד'

And Moshe, the servant of Hashem, died there. (34:5)

ויקבר אותו בגי

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

ולא קם נביא עוד בישראל כמשה...ולכל היד החזקה...אשר עשה משה לעיני כל ישראל

And no prophet has arisen in Yisrael like Moshe… and for all the mighty hand… that Moshe performed before the eyes of all Yisrael. (34:10,12)

YEARS

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