Seder Yomi

Chapter Previewהַקְדָּמָה

We begin the final parsha of the Torah, Parshas V'Zot HaBerachah, where Moshe Rabbeinu, the ish HaElokim, prepares to leave this world by giving his final, holy berachos to the Bnei Yisrael. Before addressing the individual shevatim, Moshe Rabbeinu begins with a beautiful introduction that recalls the giving of the Torah, describing how Hashem approached the Bnei Yisrael from Sinai, Seir, and Paran, and how the nation lovingly accepted the Torah as an inheritance for the congregation of Yaakov.

All introductions, summaries, and contextual notes are the editor's commentary and are not part of the original text.אַלע הַקְדָּמוֹת, סִכּוּמִים, און הערות זענען דעם רעדאַקטאָר'ס באַמערקונגען און זענען נישט קיין טייל פונעם אָריגינעלן טעקסט.

פָּסוּק א

Pasuk 1

וְזֹאתAnd this isהַבְּרָכָהthe blessingאֲשֶׁרwith whichבֵּרַךְblessedמֹשֶׁהMosheאִישׁthe man ofהָאֱלֹהִיםGodאֶת—בְּנֵיthe children ofיִשְׂרָאֵלYisraelלִפְנֵיbeforeמוֹתוֹ׃his death

רַשִׁ״י

וזאתAnd thisהברכהis the blessing…לפניbeforeמותו.his deathסָמוּךְadjacentלְמִיתָתוֹ,to his deathשֶׁאִםfor ifלֹאnotעַכְשָׁוnowאֵימָתַיwhenשםthere:

פָּסוּק ב

Pasuk 2

וַיֹּאמַרAnd he saidיְהוָהHashemמִסִּינַיfrom Sinaiבָּאcameוְזָרַחand shoneמִשֵּׂעִירfrom Seirלָמוֹto themהוֹפִיעַHe appearedמֵהַרfrom MountפָּארָןParanוְאָתָהand He approachedמֵרִבְבֹתfrom myriads ofקֹדֶשׁholinessמִימִינוֹfrom His right handאשדתa fiery lawאֵשׁfire ofדָּתlawלָמוֹ׃for them

רַשִׁ״י

ויאמרAnd he saidה'Hashemמסיניfrom Sinaiבא.cameפָּתַחhe openedתְּחִלָּהfirstבְּשִׁבְחוֹwith the praiseשֶׁלofמָקוֹםthe Omnipresentוְאַחַ"כַּand afterwardsפָּתַחhe openedבְּצָרְכֵיהֶםwith the needsשֶׁלofיִשְׂרָאֵל,Yisraelוּבַשֶּׁבַחand in the praiseשֶׁפָּתַחthat he openedבּוֹwith itיֵשׁthere isבּוֹin itהַזְכָּרַתmention ofזְכוּתmeritלְיִשְׂרָאֵל,for Yisraelוְכָלand allזֶהthisדֶּרֶךְis a way ofרִצּוּיappeasementהוּא,itכְּלוֹמַרas if to sayכְּדַאיworthyהֵםareאֵלּוּtheseשֶׁתָּחוּלthat should restעֲלֵיהֶםupon themבְּרָכָהblessingספריSifrei:

רַשִׁ״י

מסיניfrom Sinaiבא.He cameיָצָאHe went outלִקְרָאתָםto meet themכְּשֶׁבָּאוּwhen they cameלְהִתְיַצֵּבto standבְּתַחְתִּיתat the bottom ofהָהָרthe mountainכְּחָתָןlike a bridegroomהַיּוֹצֵאwho goes outלְהַקְבִּילto welcomeפְּנֵיthe face ofכַלָּה,a brideשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרas it is said"לִקְרַאתto meetהָאֱלֹהִים"GodשמותShemosי"ט19,לִמְּדָנוּit teaches usשֶׁיָּצָאthat He went outכְנֶגְדָם:towards them

רַשִׁ״י

וזרחAnd He shoneמשעירfrom Seirלמו.to themשֶׁפָּתַחfor He openedלִבְנֵיto the sons ofעֵשָׂוEsavשֶׁיְּקַבְּלוּthat they should acceptאֶת—הַתּוֹרָהthe Torahוְלֹאand notרָצוּ:did they want

רַשִׁ״י

הופיעHe appearedמהרfrom Mountפארן.Paranשֶׁהָלַךְbecause He wentשָׁםthereוּפָתַחand He offeredלִבְנֵיto the sons ofיִשְׁמָעֵאלYishmaelשֶׁיְּקַבְּלוּהָthat they accept itוְלֹאand notרָצוּdid they wantספריSifrei:

רַשִׁ״י

ואתה.and he cameלְיִשְׂרָאֵל:to Yisrael

רַשִׁ״י

מרבבתFrom myriads ofקדשholiness—וְעִמּוֹand with Himמִקְצָתa part ofרִבְבוֹתthe myriads ofמַלְאֲכֵיangels ofקֹדֶשׁholinessוְלֹאand notכֻלָּםall of themוְלֹאand notרֻבָּם,most of themוְלֹאand notכְדֶרֶךְlike the way ofבָּשָׂרfleshוָדָםand bloodשֶׁמַּרְאֶהwho showsכָּלall ofכְּבוֹדthe glory ofעָשְׁרוֹhis wealthוְתִפְאַרְתּוֹand his splendorבְּיוֹםon the day ofחֻפָּתוֹhis wedding canopyשםthere:

רַשִׁ״י

אשfireדת.lawשֶׁהָיְתָהwhich wasכְתוּבָהwrittenמֵאָזfrom thenלְפָנָיוbefore Himבְּאֵשׁin fireשְׁחֹרָהblackעַלuponגַּבthe back ofאֵשׁfireלְבָנָה,whiteנָתַןHe gaveלָהֶםto themבַּלּוּחוֹתon the Tabletsכְּתָבthe writing ofיַדthe hand ofיְמִינוֹHis right handעי'seeתנחומאTanchumaבראשיתBereshitא'1;דָּ"אַanother explanation—אשfireדתlawכְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ,like its Targumשֶׁנִּתְּנָהthat was givenלָהֶםto themמִתּוֹךְfrom the midst ofהָאֵשׁ:the fire

פָּסוּק ג

Pasuk 3

אַףEvenחֹבֵבlovingעַמִּיםnationsכָּלallקְדֹשָׁיוHis holy onesבְּיָדֶךָare in Your handוְהֵםand theyתֻּכּוּaligned themselvesלְרַגְלֶךָat Your feetיִשָּׂאbearingמִדַּבְּרֹתֶיךָ׃Your utterances

רַשִׁ״י

אףEvenחבבHe lovedעמים.peoplesגַּםAlsoחִבָּהloveיְתֵרָהexceedingחָבַבHe lovedאֶת—הַשְּׁבָטִים;the tribesכָּלeachאֶחָדoneוְאֶחָדand oneקָרוּיis calledעַם,a peopleשֶׁהֲרֵיfor beholdבִנְיָמִיןBinyaminלְבַדּוֹaloneהָיָהwasעָתִידdestinedלְהִוָּלֵדto be bornכְּשֶׁאָמַרwhen saidהַקָּדוֹשׁthe Holy Oneבָּרוּךְblessedהוּאis Heלְיַעֲקֹבto YaakovבראשיתBereishisל"ה35,"גּוֹיa nationוּקְהַלand a congregation ofגּוֹיִםnationsיִהְיֶהshall beמִמֶּךָּ":from you

רַשִׁ״י

כלAllקדשיוHis holy onesבידך.are in Your handנַפְשׁוֹתthe souls ofהַצַּדִּיקִיםthe righteousגְּנוּזוֹתare hiddenאִתּוֹ,with Himכָּעִנְיָןlike the matterשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרthat is saidשמואלShmuelאAlephכ"ה25"וְהָיְתָהand shall beנֶפֶשׁthe soul ofאֲדֹנִיmy lordצְרוּרָהboundבִּצְרוֹרin the bundle ofהַחַיִּיםthe lifeאֵת—ה'Hashemאֱלֹהֵיךָ"your GodספריSifrei:

רַשִׁ״י

והםAnd theyתכוsatלרגלך.at Your footוְהֵםand theyרְאוּיִםare deservingלְכָךְ,of thisשֶׁהֲרֵיbecauseתִּוְּכוּthey betookעַצְמָןthemselvesלְתוֹךְinto the middleתַּחְתִּיתof the underpartהָהָרof the mountainלְרַגְלֶךָunto Your footבְּסִינַי:at Sinai

רַשִׁ״י

תכו.They placed themselvesלְשׁוֹןis an expression ofפֻּעֲלוּ,they were acted uponהֻתַּוְּכוּthey were centeredלְתוֹךְinto the midst ofמַרְגְּלוֹתֶיךָ:Your feet

רַשִׁ״י

ישאthey boreמדברתיך.of Your wordsנָשְׂאוּthey boreעֲלֵיהֶםupon themselvesעֹלthe yoke ofתּוֹרָתְךָYour TorahספריSifrei:

רַשִׁ״י

מדברתיך.Thy utterancesהַמֵּ"םthe letter Memבּוֹin itקָרוֹבis closeלִיסוֹד,to a rootכְּמוֹas inבמדברBamidbarז'chapter 7,"וַיִּשְׁמַעand he heardאֶל·הַקּוֹלthe voiceמִדַּבֵּרuttering itselfאֵלָיו",unto him"וָאֶשְׁמַעand I heardאֵת—מִדַּבֵּרHim that uttered Himselfאֵלָי"unto meיחזקאלYechezkelב'chapter 2כְּמוֹwhich is likeמִתְדַּבֵּרspeakingאֵלַי,unto meאַףso tooזֶהthisמדברתיךThy utterances—מַהthatשֶּׁהָיִיתָwhich You wereמְדַבֵּרspeakingלְהַשְׁמִיעֵנִיto make me hearלֵאמֹרto sayלָהֶם,to themטי"שtesפורפרלירשpourparlersבְּלַעַז.in old Frenchוְאֻנְקְלוֹסand Onkelosתִּרְגֵּםtranslatedשֶׁהָיוּthat they wereנוֹסְעִיםtravelingעַלbyפִּיthe word ofדְּבָרֶיךָ,Your wordsוְהַמֵּ"םand the Memבּוֹin itשִׁמּוּשׁ,is a prefixמְשַׁמֶּשֶׁתservingלְשׁוֹןin the sense ofמִן.fromדָּבָרexplanationאַחֵרanother—אףYeaחבבHe lovedעמיםpeoples,אַףevenבִּשְׁעַתat the time ofחִבָּתָןHis love forשֶׁל·אֻמּוֹתthe nations ofהָעוֹלָםthe worldשֶׁהֶרְאֵיתָwhen You showedלָאֻמּוֹתto the nationsפָּנִיםa countenanceשׂוֹחֲקוֹתsmilingוּמָסַרְתָּand You deliveredאֶת—יִשְׂרָאֵלIsraelבְּיָדָם,into their handכלallקדושיוHis holy onesבידךwere in Your hand,כָּלallצַדִּיקֵיהֶםtheir righteous onesוְטוֹבֵיהֶםand their good onesדָּבְקוּclungבְּךָto Youוְלֹאand did notמָשׁוּdepartמֵאַחֲרֶיךָfrom after Youוְאַתָּהand Youשׁוֹמְרָם:guarded them

רַשִׁ״י

והםAnd theyתכוbetook themselvesלרגלך.to Your footוְהֵםand theyמִתְמַצְּעִיםplace themselves in the middleוּמִתְכַּנְּסִיםand gatherלְתַחַתto beneathצִלְּךָ.Your shadow

רַשִׁ״י

ישאthey boreמדברתיך.Your utterancesמְקַבְּלִיםacceptingגְּזֵרוֹתֶיךָYour decreesוְדָתוֹתֶיךָand Your lawsבְּשִׂמְחָה,with joyוְאֵלֶּהand theseדִבְרֵיהֶם:were their words

פָּסוּק ד

Pasuk 4

תּוֹרָהA Torahצִוָּהcommandedלָנוּto usמֹשֶׁהMosheמוֹרָשָׁהa heritageקְהִלַּתof the congregation ofיַעֲקֹב׃Yaakov

רַשִׁ״י

תורה.The TorahאֲשֶׁרwhichצוהcommandedלנוusמשהMosheמורשהan inheritanceהִיאit isלִקְהִלַּתto the congregation ofיַעֲקֹב,Yaakovאֲחַזְנוּהָwe have seized itוְלֹאand we will notנַעַזְבֶנָּה:abandon it

פָּסוּק ה

Pasuk 5

וַיְהִיAnd He wasבִישֻׁרוּןin YeshurunמֶלֶךְKingבְּהִתְאַסֵּףwhen gatheredרָאשֵׁיthe heads ofעָםthe peopleיַחַדtogetherשִׁבְטֵיthe tribes ofיִשְׂרָאֵל׃Yisrael

רַשִׁ״י

ויהי.and He wasהַקָּבָּ"ה:the Holy One blessed be He

רַשִׁ״י

בישרוןin Jeshurunמלך.a Kingתָּמִידconstantlyעֹלthe yoke ofמַלְכוּתוֹHis sovereigntyעֲלֵיהֶם:upon them

רַשִׁ״י

בהתאסף.when there gatheredבְּכָלin all ofהִתְאַסֵּףthe gathering ofרָאשֵׁיthe heads ofחֶשְׁבּוֹןthe sum ofאֲסִיפָתָם:their assembly

רַשִׁ״י

ראשי.My headsכְּמוֹlikeשמותShemosל'the expression of"כִּיWhenתִשָּׂאyou takeאֶת—רֹאשׁ",the sumרְאוּיִיןworthy areאֵלּוּtheseשֶׁאֲבָרְכֵם.that I bless themדָּ"אַanother explanation—בהתאסף.When there assembleבְּהִתְאַסְּפָםwhen they assembleיַחַדtogetherבַּאֲגֻדָּהin a bandאַחַתoneוְשָׁלוֹםand peace isבֵּינֵיהֶם,between themהוּאHe isמַלְכָּם,their Kingוְלֹאand notכְּשֶׁיֵּשׁwhen there isמַחֲלֹקֶתdissensionבֵּינֵיהֶםbetween themספריSifrei:

פָּסוּק ו

Pasuk 6

יְחִיMay liveרְאוּבֵןReuvenוְאַלand notיָמֹתdieוִיהִיand let beמְתָיוhis menמִסְפָּר׃numbered

רַשִׁ״י

יחיLet liveראובן.Reuvenבָּעוֹלָםin the worldהַזֶּה:this

רַשִׁ״י

ואלand let notימותhe dieלָעוֹלָםin the worldהַבָּא,to comeשֶׁלֹּאthat notיִזָּכֵרbe rememberedלוֹto himמַעֲשֵׂהthe incident ofבִלְהָהBilhahעי'seeשםthere:

רַשִׁ״י

ויהיand let beמתיוhis menמספר.a numberנִמְנִיןcountedבְּמִנְיַןin the number ofשְׁאָרthe rest ofאֶחָיו,his brothersדֻּגְמָאan exampleהִיאit isזוֹ,thisכָּעִנְיָןlike the matterשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרthat is saidבראשיתBereishisל"ה35"וַיִּשְׁכַּבand he layאֶת—בִּלְהָה,Bilhahוַיִּהְיוּand wereבְנֵיthe sons ofיַעֲקֹבYaakovשְׁנֵיםtwelveעָשָׂר",·שֶׁלֹּאthat notיָצָאhe went outמִןfromהַמִּנְיָן:the count

פָּסוּק ז

Pasuk 7

וְזֹאתAnd thisלִיהוּדָהfor Yehudahוַיֹּאמַרand he saidשְׁמַעhearיְהוָהHashemקוֹלthe voice ofיְהוּדָהYehudahוְאֶלand toעַמּוֹhis peopleתְּבִיאֶנּוּbring himיָדָיוhis handsרָבstriveלוֹfor himוְעֵזֶרand a helpמִצָּרָיוfrom his adversariesתִּהְיֶה׃may You be

רַשִׁ״י

וזאתAnd thisליהודה.for JudahסָמַךְHe juxtaposedיְהוּדָהJudahלִרְאוּבֵןto Reubenמִפְּנֵיbecauseשֶׁשְּׁנֵיהֶםthat both of themהוֹדוּconfessedעַלoverקִלְקוּלthe wrongdoingשֶׁבְּיָדָם,that was in their handשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרas it is said"אֲשֶׁר"Whichחֲכָמִיםwise menיַגִּידוּtellוְגוֹ'etc.לָהֶםto themלְבַדָּםaloneוְגוֹ'etc.וְלֹאand notעָבַרpassedזָרa strangerבְּתוֹכָם"in their midst"איובIyovט"ו15;וְעוֹדAnd furthermoreפֵּרְשׁוּexplainedרַבּוֹתֵינוּour Rabbisשֶׁכָּלthat allאַרְבָּעִיםfortyשָׁנָהyearsשֶׁהָיוּthat wereיִשְׂרָאֵלYisraelבַּמִּדְבָּרin the wildernessהָיוּwereעַצְמוֹתthe bones ofיְהוּדָהJudahמִתְגַּלְגְּלִיןrolling aroundבָּאָרוֹןin the coffinמִפְּנֵיbecause ofנִדּוּיthe banשֶׁקִּבֵּלthat he acceptedעָלָיו,upon himselfשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרas it is said"וְחָטָאתִי"and I shall sinלְאָבִיagainst my fatherכָּלallהַיָּמִים"the days"בראשיתBereishisמ"ד44,אָמַרsaidמֹשֶׁהMosheמִיWhoגָּרַםcausedלִרְאוּבֵןfor Reubenשֶׁיּוֹדֶה?that he should confessיְהוּדָהJudahוְכוּ'etc.סוטהSotahז'7:

רַשִׁ״י

שמעHearה'Hashemקולthe voice ofיהודה.Yehudahתְּפִלַּתthe prayer ofדָּוִדDovidוּשְׁלֹמֹהand Shlomoוְאָסָאand Asaמִפְּנֵיbecause ofהַכּוּשִׁים,the Ethiopiansוִיהוֹשָׁפָטand Yehoshafatמִפְּנֵיbecause ofהָעַמּוֹנִים,the Ammonitesוְחִזְקִיָּהand Chizkiyahמִפְּנֵיbecause ofסַנְחֵרִיב:Sancheriv

רַשִׁ״י

ואלand toעמוhis peopleתביאנו.bring himלְשָׁלוֹםin peaceמִפְּנֵיfrom beforeהַמִּלְחָמָה:the battle

רַשִׁ״י

ידיוhis handsרבstriveלו.for himיָרִיבוּlet them fightרִיבוֹhis fightוְיִנְקְמוּand avengeנִקְמָתוֹ:his vengeance

רַשִׁ״י

ועזרAnd a helpמצריוfrom his adversariesתהיה.be YouעַלforיְהוֹשָׁפָטYehoshafatהִתְפַּלֵּלhe prayedעַלregardingמִלְחֶמֶתthe battle ofרָאמוֹתRamothגִּלְעָד,Gilead"וַיִּזְעַק"and cried outיְהוֹשָׁפָטYehoshafatוַה'and Hashemעֲזָרוֹ"helped him"דבריDivreiהימיםHaYamimב'IIי"ח18;דָּ"אַAnother explanation—שמעHearה'Hashemקולthe voice ofיהודהYehudah,כָּאןhereרָמַזhe alludedלְשִׁמְעוֹןto Shimonמִתּוֹךְfrom withinבִּרְכוֹתָיוthe blessings ofשֶׁל·יְהוּדָה,Yehudahוְאַףand indeedכְּשֶׁחָלְקוּwhen they dividedאֶרֶץthe land ofיִשְׂרָאֵלYisraelנָטַלtookשִׁמְעוֹןShimonמִתּוֹךְfrom withinגּוֹרָלוֹthe lot ofשֶׁל·יְהוּדָה,Yehudahשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרas it is saidיהושעYehoshuaי"ט19"מֵחֵבֶל"From the portion ofבְּנֵיthe children ofיְהוּדָהYehudahנַחֲלַתwas the inheritance ofבְּנֵיthe children ofשִׁמְעוֹן"Shimon"וּמִפְּנֵיAnd because ofמָהwhatלֹאdid he notיִחֵדset asideלוֹfor himבְרָכָהa blessingבִּפְנֵיbyעַצְמוֹ?himselfשֶׁהָיָהbecause there wasבְּלִבּוֹin his heartעָלָיוagainst himעַלon account ofמַהwhatשֶּׁעָשָׂהthat he didבַּשִּׁטִּים,at Shittimכֵּןsoכָּתוּבis it writtenבְּאַגָּדַתin the Agada ofתְּהִלִּים:Tehillim

Chapter Summaryסִכּוּם

In this first aliyah, Moshe Rabbeinu praises the Bnei Yisrael for their devotion in following Hashem's steps and accepting His words when the Torah was commanded to them. He then begins his specific blessings to the shevatim, starting with Reuven, praying that he should live and not die and that his numbers be counted. Moshe then blesses Yehudah, asking Hashem to hear Yehudah's voice, return him safely from battle, and help him against his adversaries.

לְמַעֲשֶׂהWhat To Take Home

The Torah is telling us a beautiful yesod in this first aliyah. When Moshe Rabbeinu comes to bless the Yidden before his histalkus, he doesn't just give them individual brachos right away. First, he speaks about Kabalas HaTorah, and then he says the famous pasuk, "Torah tziva lanu Moshe morasha kehilas Yaakov." The Gemara in Pesachim teaches us that the Torah is a "morasha," an inheritance, for every single Yid. It is not a cold, intellectual pursuit meant only for the elite or the naturally gifted. It belongs to you, b'davka, as a direct inheritance from your ancestors.

Lichoira, we have to ask: why is this the introduction to the brachos of the shevatim? The teretz is that the greatest bracha a Yid can ever receive is the realization that the Torah is his personal inheritance. Sometimes the yetzer hara tries to make a person feel like an outsider in the bais medrash, as if the Torah belongs only to the gedolim or the ones who can learn for hours without a break. But the Tanna is telling us that the Torah is "morasha kehilas Yaakov", it belongs to the entire congregation, to every single neshama, no matter where you currently stand in your avodas Hashem.

When you open a Gemara or a Chumash, you are not visiting someone else's property; you are walking into your own home. You are claiming what is rightfully yours. Every single word of Torah you learn connects you directly to the chain of mesorah that started at Har Sinai. This realization should fill us with immense simcha and a deep sense of responsibility to claim our inheritance every single day.

Today, when you sit down to learn, even if it is only for five minutes, say to yourself before you begin: "This Torah is my personal inheritance from Hashem, and I am claiming it right now."