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“And (so) Moshe, servant of Hashem, died there.” (34:5)

The Torah‘s description of Moshe Rabeinu’s passing from this world seems to be an innocuous event. Horav Dovid Feinstein Shlita takes note of the word oa – “there.” He suggests that the Torah is implying that Moshe had only died “there,” suggesting that he did not die in other places. Indeed, Moshe’s soul lives on in all places where Torah is learned and lived, in order to inspire every Jew throughout history. We may apply this insight to the actual concept of life and death. One who lives his life in this world and leaves it in the manner in…

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“And of Levi he said Your Tumim and Your Urim belong to your pious one.” (33:8)

Everywhere else in the Torah the word urim precedes tumim. In this instance, the word tumim is notably placed first. tumim represents the idea of temimus – moral perfection – in the highest order. Moral perfection must precede urim – the highest degree of intellectual perfection. In this context, the Torah proceeds to describe the character of the tribe which is destined to bear the “Urim V’tumim.” The intellect is not the paramount trait. Rather, the moral character is the primary attribute. The tribe was obligated to structure a lifestyle which did not deviate from the strict moral character which…

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“Moshe commanded us the Torah, an inheritance of the community of Yaakov.” (33:4)

This pasuk, which is so prominent in Jewish life, is the first pasuk which a Jew utters upon rising in the morning and also the first pasuk we teach to our children. Its simplicity is noteworthy; its message is all encompassing. The word varun is linked with the verb arh, to inherit. This implies that Torah is our inheritance, a legacy which is bequeathed from generation to generation. From the first generation which stood at Har Sinai, who experienced the giving of the Torah through Divine Revelation, it is an inheritance. Each generation has the obligation to transmit the Torah…

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