V’zos HaBrachah – Page 8 – Peninim on the Torah

וזאת הברכה אשר ברך משה איש האלקים את בני ישראל לפני מותו

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5765, V'zos HaBrachah

And this is the blessing that Moshe, the man of G-d, bestowed upon Bnei Yisrael before his death. (33:1)

Moshe Rabbeinu blessed the nation shortly before he passed from this world. Is that not obvious? He certainly did not bless them after he died! This is why Rashi comments, Moshe said, “If not now, when?” The Maharal, zl, m’Prague, explains that the Torah is teaching us that the blessing of a manhig, leader, is most appropriate towards the end of his life. As long as the leader is vibrant and executing his duties with vigor and stalwartness, it is his function to admonish when needed, exhorting the people to raise their level of observance. He must point out their sins,…

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מימינו אש דת למו

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5765, V'zos HaBrachah

From His right hand He presented the fiery Torah to them. (33:2)

Rashi explains that Hashem gave the Torah to Klal Yisrael amid fire and lightning. This mode of presentation carries great significance for the way we should study the Torah and for our level of commitment to it. Horav Elimelech, zl, m’Lizhensk comments that this spectacular manner of delivery was designed to impress upon the people that one must fulfill the Torah with the fire of fervor and self-sacrifice. This has been the legacy of Har Sinai – fire and self-sacrifice. Anything less than total commitment is no commitment. There are countless stories that demonstrate our People’s devotion to the Torah. In…

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ולזבולן אמר שמח זבולן בצאתך ויששכר באהליך

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5765, V'zos HaBrachah

Of Zevulun, he said: Rejoice, O’Zevulun, in your excursions, and Yissachar in your tents. (33:18)

Yissachar and Zevulun were two brothers/tribes that had a unique and profound relationship. While Yissachar spent his days and nights engrossed in Torah study, Zevulun engaged in maritime commerce in order to support Yissachar. One brother studied; the other worked, each sharing in the fruits of his brother’s labor. Rashi notes that Zevulun’s name precedes that of Yissachar, despite the fact that Yissachar preceded him in birth. This is because Zevulun made Yissachar’s Torah study possible. What a wonderful and meaningful relationship! Let us momentarily transport ourselves to another world, the world of Truth, Olam Haba, to see how this…

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וישכן ישראל בטח בדד עין יעקב

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5765, V'zos HaBrachah

Thus, Yisrael will dwell secure, solitary, in the likeness of Yaakov. (33:28)

Rashi explains that one day, when the enemy is driven out, there will no longer be a need for Jews to band together and live in large communal groups for protection. Then, they will be able to live individually, secure, “each under his vine and under his fig tree.” In an attempt to define the concept of badad, solitary, the Yalkut Shimoni makes the following remarks: “It will be badad – not like the badad of Moshe Rabbeinu, who said, Hashem badad yanchenu, “Hashem alone guided them” (Devarim 32:12). It will also not be like the badad of Yirmiyahu HaNavi who…

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אשריך ישראל מי כמוך עם נושע בד' מגן עזרך

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5765, V'zos HaBrachah

Fortunate are you, O Yisrael. Who is like you! O people delivered by O Hashem, the Shield of your help. (33:29)

Our salvation is only in Hashem, Who is the Shield of our salvation. This relationship is truly unique; it is one that we must acknowledge and sustain through our tefillos. Horav Chaim Friedlander, zl, explains the nature of prayer as the medium for maintaining our closeness with Hashem and as the vehicle for catalyzing our salvation in times of need. He cites the Midrash that comments concerning Mordechai’s salvation from Haman’s diabolical plan to hang him on the scaffold that he had prepared for him. Suddenly, the tables were turned, and Mordechai was no longer the victim. He was dressed in…

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אף חבב עמים כל קדשיו בידך והם תכו לרגלך ישא מדברתיך

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5764, V'zos HaBrachah

He also showed love to peoples, all its holy ones are in Your hands; and Ithey were brought in at Your feet, He would bear Your utterances. (33:3)

In an alternative exposition of this pasuk, Rashi says that the love that Hashem demonstrated is a reference to a time in which Hashem manifests endearment to the nations of the world. He shows them a smiling countenance when He delivers Klal Yisrael into their hands. Nonetheless, “all its Holy ones are in Your hands.” Despite this g’zar din, difficult decree, against the Jewish People, its righteous ones and its good ones have cleaved to Hashem, never once doubting Him. Hashem, therefore, guards them. These deeply committed Jews accept Your decree with love and joy, declaring: Torah tzivah lanu Moshe morashah…

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והם תכו לרגלך ישא מדברתיך

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5764, V'zos HaBrachah

And they were brought in at Your feet, He would bear Your utterances.(33:3)

In the Talmud Bava Basra 8a, Chazal interpret this pasuk as a reference to talmidei chachamim, Torah scholars, who cut their feet going from town to town and country to country to learn Torah. Horav Yitzchak Zilberstein, Shlita, relates the story of a certain gadol, Torah leader, who grew up in abject poverty. He was able to continue his Torah studies unimpeded due to his mother’s singular devotion to Torah. Winter cold and frost presented a unique problem for his mother. She had three sons who attended cheder and their shoes were not fit for walking in the cold and…

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תורה צוה לנו משה מורשה קהלת יעקב

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5764, V'zos HaBrachah

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

The Midrash in Sefer Vayikra cites the following story: An illiterate Jew approached Rabbi Yanai with a complaint, “Why are you holding on to my rightful inheritance?” Rabbi Yanai immediately countered, “What are you talking about? I am not aware of anything of yours that is in my possession.” The man did not budge. “You have something of mine!” he screamed. The Tanna had no idea who this man was, let alone that he had anything in his possession that belonged to him. “Do you think that simply because I am illiterate you can take advantage of me?” the man…

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וללוי אמר תמיך ואוריך לאיש חסידך

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5764, V'zos HaBrachah

Of Levi he said: Your Tumim and Your Urim befit Your devout one. (33:8)

Moshe begins his blessing by addressing the Kohanim. Then, he speaks to the rest of the tribe. The praises that he sings are truly impressive and certainly warranted. Are we to ignore the fact, however, that the greatest controversy in the history of the nascent Jewish nation was initiated by a member of the tribe of Levi? The machlokes Korach, controversy of Korach, is one of the saddest moments in our history. Moshe Rabbeinu, also a member of the tribe of Levi, seems to have glossed over it. Why? Surely it must have pained him to recall that bitter dispute…

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שמח זבולן בצאתך ויששכר באהליך

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5764, V'zos HaBrachah

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

arav Chaim Alpandri, zl, distinguishes between the machazik Torah, supporter of Torah, and the lomeid Torah, one who studies Torah. He notes that he who studies Torah receives great reward in Olam Haba, the World to Come. In addition, Torah study protects him from the blandishments of the yetzer hara, evil inclination. An antidote for the yetzer hara, Torah provides a therapeutic bulwark against the yetzer hara’s efforts to sway a person away from Hashem. While the Torah supporter certainly receives his due reward in Olam Haba, he might venture that reward and protection are not synonymous. In other words,…

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וזאת הברכה אשר ברך משה איש האלקים את בני ישראל לפני מותו

And this is the blessing that Moshe, the man of G-d, bestowed upon Bnei Yisrael before his death. (33:1)

מימינו אש דת למו

From His right hand He presented the fiery Torah to them. (33:2)

ולזבולן אמר שמח זבולן בצאתך ויששכר באהליך

Of Zevulun, he said: Rejoice, O’Zevulun, in your excursions, and Yissachar in your tents. (33:18)

וישכן ישראל בטח בדד עין יעקב

Thus, Yisrael will dwell secure, solitary, in the likeness of Yaakov. (33:28)

אשריך ישראל מי כמוך עם נושע בד' מגן עזרך

Fortunate are you, O Yisrael. Who is like you! O people delivered by O Hashem, the Shield of your help. (33:29)

אף חבב עמים כל קדשיו בידך והם תכו לרגלך ישא מדברתיך

He also showed love to peoples, all its holy ones are in Your hands; and Ithey were brought in at Your feet, He would bear Your utterances. (33:3)

והם תכו לרגלך ישא מדברתיך

And they were brought in at Your feet, He would bear Your utterances.(33:3)

תורה צוה לנו משה מורשה קהלת יעקב

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

וללוי אמר תמיך ואוריך לאיש חסידך

Of Levi he said: Your Tumim and Your Urim befit Your devout one. (33:8)

שמח זבולן בצאתך ויששכר באהליך

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

YEARS

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