V'Zot HaBerachah

The songs

Each one is built from this parsha’s pesukim and the mefarshim further down the page. Tap the mic on any song for its words.

The parsha in brief

The whole parsha, aliyah by aliyah

All seven aliyos, in order, with the verse ranges as they are leined. The account of what happens stays to what the pesukim say; anything that explains why is quoted below.

1. 1

   1. Moshe begins the blessing

   Deuteronomy 33:1-7

   This is the blessing that Moshe, the man of G-d, gave Bnei Yisrael before his death. He opens with Hashem: He came from Sinai, shone forth from Seir, appeared from Mount Paran, and from His right hand came a fiery law. "The Torah that Moshe commanded us is the inheritance of the congregation of Yaakov," and Hashem became King in Yeshurun when all the tribes gathered together. Reuven is blessed to live and not die. For Yehudah, Moshe asks Hashem to hear his voice, bring him back to his people, and help him against his enemies.

   תּוֹרָ֥ה צִוָּה־לָ֖נוּ מֹשֶׁ֑ה מוֹרָשָׁ֖ה קְהִלַּ֥ת יַעֲקֹֽב׃

   The Torah which Moshe commanded us, is the heritage of the congregation of Yaakov.

2. 2

   2. Levi and Binyamin

   Deuteronomy 33:8-12

   To Levi belong the Urim and Tumim; Hashem tested him at Massah and Merivah. Levi kept Hashem's word and guarded His covenant, even above father, mother, brothers and children. They will teach Hashem's laws to Yaakov and His Torah to Yisrael, and place incense and offerings on the mizbeach; Moshe asks Hashem to bless his strength and accept his work. Binyamin is called the beloved of Hashem, who will dwell in safety; Hashem shelters him all day and rests between his shoulders.

   יוֹר֤וּ מִשְׁפָּטֶ֙יךָ֙ לְיַעֲקֹ֔ב וְתוֹרָתְךָ֖ לְיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל יָשִׂ֤ימוּ קְטוֹרָה֙ בְּאַפֶּ֔ךָ וְכָלִ֖יל עַֽל־מִזְבְּחֶֽךָ׃

   They shall teach Your law to Yaakov and Your Torah to Yisroel; let them place incense before You and totally consumed offerings on Your altar;

3. 3

   3. The blessing of Yosef

   Deuteronomy 33:13-17

   Yosef's land is blessed by Hashem with the best of the heavens: dew, and the deep waters lying below. It has the best crops of the sun and of the months, the best of the ancient mountains and the everlasting hills, the earth and all it holds. The goodwill of the One who dwelt in the bush should rest on Yosef's head. He is majestic like a firstborn ox, with horns like a wild ox; these are the tens of thousands of Ephraim and the thousands of Menashe.

   וּמִמֶּ֗גֶד אֶ֚רֶץ וּמְלֹאָ֔הּ וּרְצ֥וֹן שֹׁכְנִ֖י סְנֶ֑ה תָּב֙וֹאתָה֙ לְרֹ֣אשׁ יוֹסֵ֔ף וּלְקָדְקֹ֖ד נְזִ֥יר אֶחָֽיו׃

   And from the sweetness of earth and its fullness, and the favor of the One who resides in the thornbush; let this be visited upon Yoseif’s head, and upon the head of the one set apart from his brothers.

4. 4

   4. Zevulun, Yissachar and Gad

   Deuteronomy 33:18-21

   Zevulun is told to rejoice in his going out, and Yissachar in his tents. They will call peoples to the mountain and offer offerings of righteousness there, drawing the abundance of the seas and the treasures hidden in the sand. Blessed is the One who enlarges Gad, who dwells like a lion. Gad chose the first portion for himself, where the lawgiver's portion is hidden, and he came at the head of the people to carry out Hashem's righteousness with Yisrael.

   וְלִזְבוּלֻ֣ן אָמַ֔ר שְׂמַ֥ח זְבוּלֻ֖ן בְּצֵאתֶ֑ךָ וְיִשָּׂשכָ֖ר בְּאֹהָלֶֽיךָ׃

   And regarding Zevulun he said, ‘‘Rejoice Zevulun at your departure; and Yissachar in your tents.

5. 5

   5. Dan, Naftali and Asher

   Deuteronomy 33:22-26

   Dan is a lion's cub leaping from the Bashan. Naftali is satisfied with favor and full of Hashem's blessing, and will take the sea and the south. Asher is the most blessed of sons, pleasing to his brothers, dipping his foot in oil; his locks will be iron and copper, and his strength will last as long as his days. Then Moshe says there is none like the G-d of Yeshurun, who rides the heavens to help you.

   אֵ֥ין כָּאֵ֖ל יְשֻׁר֑וּן רֹכֵ֤ב שָׁמַ֙יִם֙ בְעֶזְרֶ֔ךָ וּבְגַאֲוָת֖וֹ שְׁחָקִֽים׃

   God is incomparable—Yeshurun; He who straddles the firmament in your aid and, in His pride, the high heavens.

6. 6

   6. Fortunate are you, Yisrael

   Deuteronomy 33:27-29

   The G-d of old is a dwelling place, and beneath are the everlasting arms; He drove out the enemy before you. Yisrael will dwell in safety, alone, in a land of grain and wine, where the heavens drip with dew. Moshe's last words of blessing are: "Fortunate are you, Yisrael! Who is like you, a people saved by Hashem," the shield of your help and the sword of your majesty.

   אַשְׁרֶ֨יךָ יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל מִ֣י כָמ֗וֹךָ עַ֚ם נוֹשַׁ֣ע בַּֽיהוָ֔ה מָגֵ֣ן עֶזְרֶ֔ךָ וַאֲשֶׁר־חֶ֖רֶב גַּאֲוָתֶ֑ךָ וְיִכָּֽחֲשׁ֤וּ אֹיְבֶ֙יךָ֙ לָ֔ךְ וְאַתָּ֖ה עַל־בָּמוֹתֵ֥ימוֹ תִדְרֹֽךְ׃ (ס)

   You are fortunate, Yisroel, who can compare to you—a people saved by Adonoy, the shield of your aid and who [provides the victory of] the sword of your glory; and your enemies will prevaricate to you, while you tread on their high places.’’

7. 7

   7. Moshe on Har Nevo

   Deuteronomy 34:1-12

   Moshe goes up from the plains of Moav to Har Nevo, the top of the peak facing Yericho, and Hashem shows him the whole land, from the Gilad to Dan, Naftali, Ephraim and Menashe, Yehudah to the western sea, the Negev, and the valley of Yericho, the city of palms. Hashem tells him this is the land promised to Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov; he has seen it with his eyes but will not cross over. Moshe, the servant of Hashem, died there in Moav at Hashem's word, and no one knows his burial place to this day; he was 120 years old and his eyes had not dimmed. Bnei Yisrael wept for him thirty days, and Yehoshua bin Nun, full of the spirit of wisdom, led them. No prophet like Moshe ever arose again in Yisrael, whom Hashem knew face to face.

   וְלֹֽא־קָ֨ם נָבִ֥יא ע֛וֹד בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל כְּמֹשֶׁ֑ה אֲשֶׁר֙ יְדָע֣וֹ יְהוָ֔ה פָּנִ֖ים אֶל־פָּנִֽים׃

   And there has not ever arisen a prophet within Yisroel like Moshe, whom Adonoy knew face-to-face.

From the mefarshim

Every one of these is the mefaresh’s own words, fetched and checked. Not a summary.

1. 1Rashi — if not now, when?

   וזאת הברכה … לפני מותו. סָמוּךְ לְמִיתָתוֹ, שֶׁאִם לֹא עַכְשָׁו אֵימָתַי (שם):

   וזאת הברכה … לפני מותו AND THIS IS THE BLESSING [WHEREWITH MOSES … BLESSED THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL] BEFORE HIS DEATH — i.e., quite near to his death. “For” said he, “if not now, when?” (Sifrei Devarim 342:7).

   Rashi on Deuteronomy 33:1:1

2. 2Rashi — like a groom going out to meet his bride

   מסיני בא. יָצָא לִקְרָאתָם כְּשֶׁבָּאוּ לְהִתְיַצֵּב בְּתַחְתִּית הָהָר כְּחָתָן הַיּוֹצֵא לְהַקְבִּיל פְּנֵי כַלָּה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "לִקְרַאת הָאֱלֹהִים" (שמות י"ט), לִמְּדָנוּ שֶׁיָּצָא כְנֶגְדָם:

   מסיני בא [THE LORD] CAME FROM SINAI — He went forth towards them when they were about to take their stand at the foot of the Mount, — as a bridegroom goes forth to welcome his bride, as it is said, (Exodus 19:17) “And Moses brought the people forth to meet God”: this teaches us that He (God) was Himself going forth facing them (cf. Mekhilta and Rashi on the verse quoted).

   Rashi on Deuteronomy 33:2:2

3. 3Rashi — a Torah of fire

   אש דת. שֶׁהָיְתָה כְתוּבָה מֵאָז לְפָנָיו בְּאֵשׁ שְׁחֹרָה עַל גַּב אֵשׁ לְבָנָה, נָתַן לָהֶם בַּלּוּחוֹת כְּתָב יַד יְמִינוֹ (עי' תנחומא בראשית א'); דָּ"אַ — אש דת כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ, שֶׁנִּתְּנָה לָהֶם מִתּוֹךְ הָאֵשׁ:

   אשדת (lit., “fire, Law”, or “fire of Law”) — i.e. the Law which had been written before Him from olden times in black fire upon white fire (Midrash Tanchuma, Bereshit 1). The meaning of the verse is: He gave to them (למו) upon the Tablets the writing of His right hand (cf. Talmud Yerushalmi Shekalim 9:1). Another explanation of אש דת: Understand this as the Targum has it: a law which was given them from the midst of the fire (cf. Exodus 19:18).

   Rashi on Deuteronomy 33:2:7

4. 4Rashi — kept safe in His hand

   כל קדשיו בידך. נַפְשׁוֹת הַצַּדִּיקִים גְּנוּזוֹת אִתּוֹ, כָּעִנְיָן שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמואל א כ"ה) "וְהָיְתָה נֶפֶשׁ אֲדֹנִי צְרוּרָה בִּצְרוֹר הַחַיִּים אֵת ה' אֱלֹהֵיךָ" (ספרי):

   כל קדשיו בידך ALL HIS SAINTS ARE IN THY HAND — the souls of the righteous are stored up with Him, just as it is said, (I Samuel 25:29) “And the soul of my lord shall be bound up in the bundle of life with the Lord thy God" (Sifrei Devarim 344:7).

   Rashi on Deuteronomy 33:3:2

5. 5Rashi — we hold it and never let go

   תורה. אֲשֶׁר צוה לנו משה מורשה הִיא לִקְהִלַּת יַעֲקֹב, אֲחַזְנוּהָ וְלֹא נַעַזְבֶנָּה:

   תורה THE LAW which צוה לנו משה MOSES COMMANDED US, מורשה is AN INHERITANCE to THE CONGREGATION OF JACOB: we have taken it and we will not abandon it.

   Rashi on Deuteronomy 33:4:1

6. 6Sforno — all the tribes, together

   יַחַד שִׁבְטֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל. הָיָה מֶלֶךְ עַל כָּל שִׁבְטֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל יַחְדָּיו, שֶׁאָז הוֹדוּ וְקִבְּלוּ מַלְכוּתוֹ, כְּאָמְרָם ״וְאַתְּ תְּדַבֵּר אֵלֵינוּ אֵת כָּל אֲשֶׁר יְדַבֵּר ה׳ אֱלֹהֵינוּ אֵלֶיךָ וְשָׁמַעְנוּ וְעָשִׂינוּ״ (דברים ה:כד).

   יחד שבטי ישראל, G’d had thus become King over all the tribes of Israel at one and the same time as they all accepted His status as being their supreme authority. The words which the people used to express this acceptance were:ואת תדבר אלינו את כל אשר ידבר ה' אלוקינו אליך ושמענו ועשינו, “and you say to us all that the Lord our G’d will say to you, and we will hear it and do it.” (Deut.5,24)

   Sforno on Deuteronomy 33:5:3

7. 7Rashi — sheltered all day long

   חפף עליו. מְכַסֶּה אוֹתוֹ וּמֵגֵן עָלָיו:

   חפף עליו means, He covers him and protects him,

   Rashi on Deuteronomy 33:12:2

8. 8Rashi — Zevulun and Yissachar share the learning

   שמח זבולן בצאתך ויששכר באהליך. זְבוּלֻן וְיִשָּׂשכָר עָשׂוּ שֻׁתָּפוּת, זְבוּלֻן לְחוֹף יַמִּים יִשְׁכֹּן וְיוֹצֵא לִפְרַקְמַטְיָא בִּסְפִינוֹת וּמִשְׂתַּכֵּר וְנוֹתֵן לְתוֹךְ פִּיו שֶׁל יִשָּׂשכָר, וְהֵם יוֹשְׁבִים וְעוֹסְקִים בַּתּוֹרָה, לְפִיכָךְ הִקְדִּים זְבוּלֻן לְיִשָּׂשכָר שֶׁתּוֹרָתוֹ שֶׁל יִשָּׂשכָר עַל יְדֵי זְבוּלֻן הָיְתָה (בראשית רבה צ"ט):

   שמח זבולן בצאתך ויששכר באהליך REJOICE, ZEBULUN. IN THY GOING OUT, AND, ISSACHAR, IN THY TENTS — Zebulun and Issachar entered into a partnership: Zebulun dwelt at the harbour of ships and went out in ships to trade; he made profit and used to provide food for Issachar who sat at home and occupied themselves with the Torah. Consequently he mentioned Zebulun before Issachar (although the latter was the elder) because Issachar’s knowledge of Torah was due to Zebulun (Genesis Rabbah 99:9).

   Rashi on Deuteronomy 33:18:2

9. 9Rashi — everything is yours already

   אשריך ישראל. לְאַחַר שֶׁפָּרַט לָהֶם הַבְּרָכוֹת, אָמַר לָהֶם מַה לִּי לִפְרֹט לָכֶם כָּל דָּבָר? הַכֹּל שֶׁלָּכֶם:

   אשריך ישראל HAPPY ART THOU, O ISRAEL — After he had recited unto them all these blessings in detail, he said to them. “Why should I detail everything to you? Everything is yours.

   Rashi on Deuteronomy 33:29:1

10. 10Sforno — a joy everyone can see

    אַשְׁרֶיךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל. וְאָז תַּגִּיעַ אֶל הָאֹשֶׁר שֶׁהוּא הַמַּדְרֵגָה הָעֶלְיוֹנָה הָאֶפְשָׁרִית לְעָם.

    אשריך ישראל, at that time true אישור, happiness, will become manifest in our world, This is the loftiest level of collective satisfaction a nation can attain.

    Sforno on Deuteronomy 33:29:1

11. 11Rashi — go tell the Avos

    לאמר לזרעך אתננה הראיתיך. כְּדֵי שֶׁתֵּלֵךְ וְתֹאמַר לְאַבְרָהָם לְיִצְחָק וּלְיַעֲקֹב, שְׁבוּעָה שֶׁנִּשְׁבַּע לָכֶם הַקָּבָּ"ה קִיְּמָהּ. וְזֶהוּ לאמר, לְכָךְ הֶרְאִיתִיהָ לְךָ, אֲבָל גְּזֵרָה הִיא מִלְּפָנַי שֶׁשָּׁמָּה לא תעבר, שֶׁאִלּוּלֵי כָךְ הָיִיתִי מְקַיֶּמְךָ עַד שֶׁתִּרְאֶה אוֹתָם נְטוּעִים וּקְבוּעִים בָהּ וְתֵלֵךְ וְתַגִּיד לָהֶם:

    לאמר לזרעך אתננה הראיתיך TO SAY, TO THY SEED WILL I GIVE IT, I HAVE LET THEE SEE IT, i.e. in order that you may go and say to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob: The oath which the Holy One, blessed be He, swore to you — that oath He has fulfilled. This is the force of לאמר (Berakhot 18b), “to say it”, viz., that you may say it — for that reason have I let you see it. But it is a decree from Me that שמה לא תעבר THERE YOU SHALL NOT CROSS OVER; for were this not so, I would keep you alive even until you saw them planted and settled in it, and you would then go and tell them (the patriarchs).

    Rashi on Deuteronomy 34:4:1

12. 12Rashi — his eyes stayed bright

    לא כהתה עינו. אַף מִשֶּׁמֵּת:

    לא כהתה עינו HIS EYE WAS NOT DIM — even after he had died (Sifrei Devarim 357:34).

    Rashi on Deuteronomy 34:7:1

13. 13Rashi — like speaking with a friend

    אשר ידעו ה' פנים אל פנים. שֶׁהָיָה לִבּוֹ גַּס בּוֹ וּמְדַבֵּר אֵלָיו בְּכָל עֵת שֶׁרוֹצֶה, כָּעִנְיָן שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "וְעַתָּה אֶעֱלֶה אֶל ה'" (שמות ל"ב), "עִמְדוּ וְאֶשְׁמְעָה מַה יְּצַוֶּה לָכֶם" (במדבר ט'):

    אשר ידעו ה׳ פנים אל פנים WHOM THE LORD KNEW FACE TO FACE — this means: that he was familiar with Him and used to speak with Him at any time he desired, just as it is stated that Moses said, (Exodus 32:30), “And now I will ascend to the Lord”; (Numbers 9:8) “Stay and I will hear what God will command regarding you”.

    Rashi on Deuteronomy 34:10:1

Vorts & shmuessen on this parsha

Good vorts and shmuessen on this parsha from around the Torah world: a taste of each, and the link to learn it properly. Every excerpt is verbatim, checked against the page itself.

• Shmuess, torasavigdor.org

  He Came Shining

  Rav Avigdor Miller

  “But to the Jewish people You came openly, with thunder and lighting, and they heard Your voice speaking at Sinai.”

  Learn it inside

• Vort, torasavigdor.org

  The Nations Reject the Torah

  Rav Avigdor Miller

  “Hashem said, “Look at the Am Yisroel! This is a special nation! Would any other nation have done that?!””

  Learn it inside

• Shmuess, aish.com

  The National Heirloom

  Rabbi Yissocher Frand

  “How fortunate are we that the Torah is our heirloom! How fortunate are the Jewish people that God is their Lord!”

  Learn it inside

• Vort, aish.com

  The Perpetual Blessing

  Katia Bolotin

  “Just as you safeguard the Torah by keeping its teachings alive, so too, the Torah will safeguard you.”

  Learn it inside

• Shmuess, aish.com

  Vezos HaBracha – Moses' Greatest Deed

  Rabbi Yehonasan Gefen

  “We end the Torah and then immediately restart it again, reading the opening verses of Bereishis.”

  Learn it inside