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

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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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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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)

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)

YEARS

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