V’zos HaBrachah – Page 6 – Peninim on the Torah

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5770, V'zos HaBrachah

And by 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,…

Home -> V'zos HaBrachah -> 5769

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

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5769, V'zos HaBrachah

And by all the strong hand and 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. Hashem ratified his action, as Chazal say, Ye’yasher 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 not simply put them away until such time that the people performed teshuvah, repented,…

Home -> V'zos HaBrachah -> 5769

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

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5769, V'zos HaBrachah

And by all the strong hand and 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, which in part describes 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…

Home -> V'zos HaBrachah -> 5769

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

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5769, V'zos HaBrachah

And by all the strong hand and 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 then subsequently shattering 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 to be Moshe’s greatest moments, the epitaph for 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…

Home -> V'zos HaBrachah -> 5768

תורה צוה לנו משה מורשה קהלת יעקב

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5768, V'zos HaBrachah

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

Ramban interprets this well-known pasuk to be a declaration of our inherent right to the Torah, as our unassailable possession, to be transmitted from one generation to the next. The word morashah can also be read as me’orasah, married, inspiring Chazal in the Talmud Pesachim 49b to expound that the relationship between the Jewish People and the Torah is similar to that of a chassan and kallah, a groom and his bride. We are wed to the Torah. In his derashos, the Maharal comments that this refers to the entire nation. Every Jew, rich or poor, pedigreed or not, each…

Home -> V'zos HaBrachah -> 5768

יורו משפטיך ליעקב ותורתך לישראל

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5768, V'zos HaBrachah

They shall teach Your ordinances to Yaakov and Your Torah to Yisrael. (33:10)

Sforno views this blessing as a prayer, an entreaty to Hashem that He grant Shevet Levi the qualities and character of the ideal Torah teacher: One whose piety, virtue and sincerity is such that people will seek him out and listen to what he has to say, as though he is Hashem’s messenger. This is consistent with the well-known statement of Chazal in the Talmud Moed Katan 17a, “If the rav is like an angel/messenger of Hashem, they will seek Torah from his mouth.” Sforno seems to be telling us that despite the virtue of Shevet Levi – regardless of…

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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…

Home -> V'zos HaBrachah -> 5768

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,…

Home -> V'zos HaBrachah -> 5767

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

תורה צוה לנו משה מורשה קהלת יעקב

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

יורו משפטיך ליעקב ותורתך לישראל

They shall teach Your ordinances to Yaakov and Your Torah to Yisrael. (33:10)

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)

YEARS

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