Dvar Torah Parashat Vezot Haberacha - Simchat Torah
- Salez Pros
- Oct 9
- 10 min read
Dedication for a Refuah Shelaima for Esther bat Tziporah, Avraham ben Shoshana, Daniel ben Shoshana, Esther bat Shoshana, and Ahuva bat Shoshana ________________________________________________________ Parashat Vezot Haberacha / Simchat Torah
Vezot Haberacha—This is the Blessing
During most of Sefer Devarim, Moshe gave harsh words of rebuke and criticism of Bnei Yisrael’s past and future behavior. Here, in the final parasha in the Torah, Vezot Haberacha, Moshe gives his last words of blessing and hope for the Jewish Nation. His words are spoken with the love of a father, teacher, and mentor.
Vezot Haberacha should be the saddest of all the parshiot since it records the passing of the nation’s beloved leader. However, Moshe’s blessings to his people remain as vital and encouraging today as the day they were first given. His fierce love for the Jewish people fuels their unbending affection for Torah, and so we revel in joy the day this parasha is read, as it represents concluding and beginning anew.
The Twelve Tribes
Before his death, Moshe gives blessings to each of the tribes, which echoes Yaakov’s berachot to his children five generations earlier. Moshe assigns and empowers each tribe with its individual role within the community of Israel.
The only tribe that does not receive a blessing is Shimon. Years earlier, in his final blessings, Yaakov had reproved both Shimon and Levi for their rash judgment with the destruction of Shechem. The tribe of Shimon continued to make quick, irresponsible decisions. Their leader, Zimri, had sinned in Shittim with a Moabite princess, inspiring many of his tribesmen to commit similar misdeeds (Rashi 33:7).
The tribe of Levi, however, had utilized its trait of zealousness and anger for the purpose of avenging the Almighty’s honor. They went on to punish the worshippers of the Golden Calf, Pinchas, a member of the tribe of Levi, was the one to slay Zimri, and years later, the Chashmonaim, descendants of Levi, would battle a Greek army to fight on behalf of Hashem and His people.
Therefore, the tribe of Shimon lost the privilege of receiving its own beracha. Nevertheless, Moshe alludes to the tribe of Shimon when he says, “Shema, Hashem—Listen, Hashem (33:7),” in Yehudah’s blessing, as shema contains the first three letters of the name Shimon, and Shimon received some strips of land within Yehudah’s portion.
Moshe’s Burial
Moshe ended his speech with praises of Hashem and Klal Yisrael. Vezot Haberacha then relates how Moshe ascended the mountain of Nevo, where he got a first and final glimpse of Eretz Yisrael before his death.
“So Moshe, servant of Hashem, died there, in the land of Moav, at the command of Hashem. G-d buried him in the valley in the land of Moab, opposite Bet Peor, and no one knows his burial place to this day (34:5-6).”
The midrash explains that Hashem buried Moshe because he had taken extra care and consideration with the bones of Yosef during the Exodus. As B’nei Yisrael carried out gold and silver, Moshe carried Yosef’s coffin. The midrash says Hashem said, “Yosef was obligated to bury his father in Eretz Yisrael because he was a son. But you are neither a son nor grandson, and you were not obligated to attend to [Yosef’s] body… Therefore, I, Who have no obligation to a human being, will personally tend to your burial.”
The passuk relates that until today, we don’t know the location of Moshe’s grave. Rav Samson Rafael Hirsch explains that the Torah saw the potential that Moshe Rabbenu’s grave could become a deity. All of us need to remember that when we visit the graves of the righteous, we do not pray to the pious people that they should bless us. Instead, we visit the graves of tzaddikim to ask that they petition the Ribono Shel Olam on our behalf. Moshe was a person of such monumental stature that his resting place had the potential to, chas veshalom, become a shrine.
Why does the Torah say we don’t know where Moshe is buried, but it has the precise location of “in Moav opposite Bet Peor?”
Many years ago, there was a small Jewish community somewhere in Poland that was in search of a rabbi. An enthusiastic young rabbi who had just received his semicha—rabbinical ordination came for an interview. After looking around the town, he was somewhat disappointed. He mentioned to the shul president that no one seemed interested in studying Torah. To keep him there, the president told him, “Did you know that some of the most prominent Torah luminaries such as the Rambam, Rashi, and the Rama are buried in our community?”
When faced with the possibility of having such illustrious antecedents, the rabbi started to look at the position in a new light. “Okay,” he said. “I’ll stay.”
A few months later, the rabbi passed by the town’s graveyard. On the spot, he decided to pay a visit to the graves of the tzaddikim. After half an hour of searching, he was convinced neither the Rambam, Rashi, nor the Rama were present amongst those who rested there. And then he thought to himself, “Hang on a minute! The Rambam is buried in Tiberius in Eretz Yisrael! Rashi’s buried in France, and the Rama is in Cracow!”
Livid, he demanded to see the president of the synagogue. “You lied to me!” The president explained, “Rabbi, do not get angry with us, for we have spoken the truth. You can visit Tiberias, their Yeshivot, and shuls and see that the Rambam still lives there. He is discussed, and his words are studied with the greatest respect. You can go through the Jewish academies of France, and you will see that Rashi lives there. He is part of the life of everyone who learns the Chumash and the Gemara. You can go to Cracow and see that the Rama, the great Rabbi Moshe Isserles, still lives there. The people live by the rulings he outlined in the Shulchan Aruch.
“However, in our community, all these great and prominent leaders of the Jewish people are dead and buried. You will not find anyone here, among our young and old, repeating words of the Rambam, Rashi, or the Rama. It is true, Rabbi, that all these great masters of Jewish law are ‘buried’ here in this community, and we brought you here to resurrect them.”
Moshe’s body indeed died “in the land of Moav opposite Bet Peor.” However, “no one knows his burial place” because as long as Torah is studied, Moshe will always be alive and well in the land of the living.
Torah Is Our Life
Last week in Parashat Haazinu, Moshe sang, “Apply your hearts to all the words that I warn you today, which you are to instruct your children, which you are to be careful to perform all the words of this Torah (32:46).” Ramban says that as Jews, our purpose in this world is to have children and to teach them the ways of the Torah. The education of our young children has always been the key to our survival as the Jewish Nation. Rashi says that the Torah is our life, and if someone finds it unsatisfying, the feeling must stem from that person’s learning because the Torah is not lacking. If the Torah doesn't intrigue and challenge that person, he must not have applied himself properly. We pray every morning, “Vehaarev na Hashem elokenu et divrei toratecha bephenu- Sweeten for us Hashem our G-D the words of your Torah in our mouths.” This prayer should encourage us to learn more and learn well, so we may achieve that sweetness from learning Torah. Our attitude plays a critical role in the success of acquiring the joys of the Torah. Studying and toiling will ultimately be the most rewarding thing in one’s life. Parashat Vezot Haberacha says, “The Torah that Moshe commanded us is the heritage of the congregation of Jacob (33:4).” Rabbi Twerski comments on this, saying, “Torah is like inheritance, and it’s the parents’ responsibility to see that their child's inheritance does not fall into despair as a result of neglect. The failure to preserve a child's Torah inheritance is a serious dereliction.” Suppose we deprive a child of his Torah education for any reason, financial or otherwise. In that case, we’re setting off a ripple effect that will hurt all the future generations that succeed him. And when we give a child a solid yeshivah education, we will nurture all the souls that follow him.
After World War II, there was a Jew who arrived in New York with just the shirt on his back. He came across a man who owned several buildings and explained his circumstances. He said, “I came from overseas with nothing; I survived the Holocaust and have no family. I’m looking for a job, and I’ll pay rent as soon as I earn money.” The wealthy man agreed and gave the Jew an apartment in one of his buildings free of charge until he’d get back on his feet.
Later, the Jew’s friend was rescued. The newcomer arrived with nothing and asked his friend if he knew of a unit he could live in until he started working. His friend told him about this man who helped him and that he might be willing to make the same arrangements for him. The wealthy man gladly gave the friend a unit to live in until he started working and could pay rent.
Time passed, and Passover was around the corner. The two friends went to Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson and asked him for a favor. They told the Rebbe about this man and asked if he could call him and ask the man to help the survivors buy provisions for Passover. After hearing of this man’s generosity to these Jews who were just rescued, the Rebbe agreed to make the call. The man was shocked to receive a call from the Rebbe himself and said, “These Jewish men could buy whatever they need, and I will cover all costs.”
Months later, the two friends longed to hear prayers on the high holidays because the last few were spent in concentration camps. The friends approached the Rebbe again and inquired if he would ask the man to arrange prayer services in New York. The Rebbe told the friends this request was too big for a phone call, so he invited the man to dinner. The Rebbe made the request. The man replied, “Not only will I arrange for them to have services here, but I will build them a beautiful synagogue to pray in for years to come.”
That man went on to build a beautiful shul on Avenue Z in Brooklyn and continued to support countless needy Jewish families for many years. He was generous and spiritual, and although he wasn’t Jewish, he was very much a revered member of the Jewish community in Brooklyn. That man was Fred Trump. His son, Donald, became president of the United States. On election night back in 2016, Ivanka Trump was at the Ohel, the Rebbe’s gravesite. When we lead by example and show our children that we are kindhearted, generous people, our children will benefit. Our mitzvot never go unrewarded. Hashem gave the Trump family a legacy that will last forever.
An Amazing Legacy
Parashat Vezot Haberacha is read with joy and enthusiasm, with children singing and dancing on their fathers’ shoulders. Simchat Torah is a day filled with sweetness, light, and pure happiness. It is a beautiful note to conclude an incredible year of Torah and the High Holidays. We rejoice and celebrate the start of a wonderful new year while holding the very gift Hashem gave to the Jewish Nation at Har Sinai. We must live by the Torah and continue the legacy of the Jewish people, enriching our children and grandchildren's lives. Let us always desire to be better people, to learn more, and to come together as a nation as we did when we mourned the loss of Moshe Rabbenu ZT’L. May we be zocheh to teach our children and grandchildren according to the sweet ways of the Torah, enabling subsequent generations to do the same. May the joy and optimism of Simchat Torah carry us through the rest of the year. May we be blessed with all the berachot Moshe had gifted us in this parasha and anticipate the arrival of Mashiach in our days! Amen!
Chazak chazak venitchazek!!! Shabbat Shalom! Tizku Leshanim Rabot!
Rabbi Amram Sananes, written by Jack Rahmey Discussion Point:
This book is a compilation of Divre Torah from the weekly parasha classes from Rabbi Sananes’ teachings over the last 10 years along with my own experiences in those classes which has stimulated my Torah growth. I’ve included many pertinent stories and life lessons to grow from at your Shabbat table. There’s also questions and discussion points at the end of each Parasha to stimulate a Torah conversation at your Shabbat table for the whole family to participate in. Also, included is a holidays section at the end of the book to use for all of our special holidays and Yomiim Toviim. Now available in all Jewish bookstores and Amazon! Scan the barcode on the right to purchase from Amazon. Rabbi Sananes and I look forward to hearing your feedback. Sincerely, Rabbi Amram Sananes and Jack E. Rahmey AmramSananes@me.com and jrahmey@rahmeyfinancial.com (917-226-6276)
Le’ilui Nishmat…
Eliyahu Ben Rachel Rabbi Shimon Chay Ben Yaasher Avraham Ben Garaz Sarah Bat Chanah Esther Bat Sarah Avraham Ben Mazal Shulamit Bat Helaina Rabbi Meyer Ben Chana Rahamim Ben Mazal Batsheva Bat Sarah Esther Rafael Ben Miriam Ovadia Ben Esther Rav Haim Ben Rivka Moshe Ben Mazal Moshe Ben Yael Yitzchak Ben Adele Avraham Ben Mazal Meir Ben Latifa Chanah Bat Esther Yaakov Ben Rachel Malka Bat Garaz Moshe Ben Garaz Avraham Ben Kami Yaakov Ben Leah Mordechai Ben Rachel Chacham Shaul Rachamim Ben Mazal Natan Ben Rachel Saadia Ben Miriam Eliyah Ben Latifa Simhon Margalit Bat Mazal Ovadia Haim Ben Malaky Rabbi Aharon Chaim Ben Ruchama Luratte Bat Masouda Esther Bat Menucha Uri Ben Rahel Rivka Bat Dona Shalom Ben Zahra Rachel Bat Sarah Shalom Ben Zahra Chava Yvette Bat Jamile Yehoshoua Ben Batsheva Refuah Shelemah…
Rachel Bat Devorah Gimol Sarah Ester Bat Batsheva Haim Ben Miriam Rachmim Ben Leah
Anyone interested in dedicating this Divre Torah Le'ilui Nishmat or Refuah Shelemah or In Honor of someone, can email me at jrahmey@rahmeyfinancial.com. Checks can be made out to “A Life of Torah” for $101 and mailed to 2387 Ocean Ave Suite 1G, Brooklyn, NY 11229 (please put in the memo “Divre Torah”). Anyone interested in past parshiot please go to the website ParashaPerspective.org |
Comments