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חוּמָּשׁ עִם רַשִׁ״י · וזאת הברכה · שֵׁנִי

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V'Zot HaBerachah · 2nd Aliyah
Chapter Previewהַקְדָּמָה

In this aliyah, Moshe Rabbeinu continues his final berachos to the shevatim, focusing here on Shevet Levi and Shevet Binyamin. Moshe praises Levi for their absolute loyalty to Hashem, recalling how they stood strong during the trials in the midbar and put their commitment to Hashem's covenant above all personal and family considerations. Because of this devotion, they are chosen to be the teachers of Torah to Klal Yisrael and to perform the sacred avodah in the Beis HaMikdash.

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
וּלְלֵוִיAnd of Leviאָמַרhe saidתֻּמֶּיךָYour Thummimוְאוּרֶיךָand Your Urimלְאִישׁbe with the manחֲסִידֶךָof Your pietyאֲשֶׁרwhomנִסִּיתוֹYou testedבְּמַסָּהat MassahתְּרִיבֵהוּYou challenged himעַלatמֵיthe waters ofמְרִיבָה׃Meribah
רַשִׁ״י
וללויAnd of Leviאמר.he saidוְעַלand regardingלֵוִיLeviאָמַר:he said
רַשִׁ״י
תמיךYour Thummimואוריך.and Your Urimכְּלַפֵּיtowardsשְׁכִינָהthe ShechinahהוּאHeמְדַבֵּר:is speaking
רַשִׁ״י
אשרWhomנסיתוYou tested himבמסה.with trialsשֶׁלֹּאthat notנִתְלוֹנְנוּdid they murmurעִםwithשְׁאָרthe rest ofהַמַּלִּינִים:those who murmured
רַשִׁ״י
תריבהוThou didst strive with himוגו'.etc.כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ.according to its Targumדָּ"אַanother explanation—תריבהוThou didst strive with himעלatמיthe waters ofמריבהMeribah,נִסְתַּקַּפְתָּThou didst seek an occasionלוֹagainst himלָבֹאto comeבַעֲלִילָה,with a pretextאִםifמֹשֶׁהMosheאָמַרsaidשִׁמְעוּhearנָאnowהַמֹּרִים,ye rebelsאַהֲרֹןAharonוּמִרְיָםand Miriamמֶהwhatעָשׂוּ?did they doספריSifrei:
פָּסוּק ב
Pasuk 2
הָאֹמֵרWho saidלְאָבִיוof his fatherוּלְאִמּוֹand of his motherלֹאnotרְאִיתִיוI saw himוְאֶתand —אֶחָיוhis brothersלֹאnotהִכִּירhe recognizedוְאֶתand —בנוhis sonבָּנָיוhis childrenלֹאnotיָדָעhe knewכִּיforשָׁמְרוּthey observedאִמְרָתֶךָYour wordוּבְרִיתְךָand Your covenantיִנְצֹרוּ׃they guarded
רַשִׁ״י
האמרWho saidלאביוto his fatherולאמוand to his motherלאnotראיתיו.I have seen himכְּשֶׁחָטְאוּwhen they sinnedבָעֵגֶלwith the calfוְאָמַרְתִּיand I said"מִיwhoever isלַה'for Hashemאֵלָי"to meשמותShemosל"ב32,נֶאֶסְפוּgatheredאֵלַיto meכָּלallבְּנֵיthe sons ofלֵוִיLeviוְצִוִּיתִיםand I commanded themלַהֲרֹגto killאֶת—אֲבִיthe father ofאִמּוֹhis motherוְהוּאand heמִיִּשְׂרָאֵלfrom Israelאוֹorאֶת—אָחִיוhis brotherמֵאִמּוֹfrom his motherאוֹorבֶןthe son ofבִּתּוֹ,his daughterוְכֵןand soעָשׂוּ.they didוְאִיand it is impossibleאֶפְשָׁר·לְפָרֵשׁto explainאָבִיוhis fatherמַמָּשׁliterallyוְאָחִיוand his brotherמֵאָבִיוfrom his fatherוְכֵןand likewiseבָּנָיוhis sonsמַמָּשׁ,literallyשֶׁהֲרֵיfor beholdלְוִיִּיםLevitesהֵם,they areוּמִשֵּׁבֶטand from the tribe ofלֵוִיLeviלֹאnotחָטָאsinnedאֶחָדoneמֵהֶם,of themשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרas it is saidשםthere"כָּלallבְּנֵיthe sons ofלֵוִי":Levi
רַשִׁ״י
כיbecauseשמרוthey keptאמרתך.Your word"לֹאthere shall notיִהְיֶהbeלְךָto youאֱלֹהִיםgodsאַחֵרִים"othersשמותShemosכ,20ב2:
רַשִׁ״י
ובריתךAnd Your covenantינצרו.they guardedבְּרִיתthe covenant ofמִילָה,circumcisionשֶׁאוֹתָםfor thoseשֶׁנּוֹלְדוּwho were bornבַּמִּדְבָּרin the desertשֶׁלofיִשְׂרָאֵלYisraelלֹאdid notמָלוּcircumciseאֶת—בְּנֵיהֶם,their sonsוְהֵםand theyהָיוּwereמוּלִיןcircumcisedוּמָלִיןand circumcisingאֶת—בְּנֵיהֶם:their sons
פָּסוּק ג
Pasuk 3
יוֹרוּThey shall teachמִשְׁפָּטֶיךָYour lawsלְיַעֲקֹבto Yaakovוְתוֹרָתְךָand Your Torahלְיִשְׂרָאֵלto Yisraelיָשִׂימוּthey shall placeקְטוֹרָהincenseבְּאַפֶּךָbefore Your nostrilsוְכָלִילand whole-offeringsעַלuponמִזְבְּחֶךָ׃Your altar
רַשִׁ״י
יורוThey shall teachמשפטיך.Your judgmentsרְאוּיִיןare worthyאֵלּוּtheseלְכָךְ:for this
רַשִׁ״י
וכליל.and entirely burntעוֹלָהa burnt-offeringיומאYomaכ"ו26:
פָּסוּק ד
Pasuk 4
בָּרֵךְBlessיְהוָהHashemחֵילוֹhis substanceוּפֹעַלand the work ofיָדָיוhis handsתִּרְצֶהfavorמְחַץsmiteמָתְנַיִםthe loins ofקָמָיוthose who rise against himוּמְשַׂנְאָיוand his enemiesמִןfromיְקוּמוּן׃rising
רַשִׁ״י
מחץSmiteמתניםthe loins ofקמיו.those who rise against himמְחַץsmiteקָמָיוthose who rise against himמַכַּתwith a blow ofמָתְנַיִם,the loinsכָּעִנְיָןlike the matterשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרthat is saidתהיליםTehillimס"ט69"וּמָתְנֵיהֶםand their loinsתָּמִידcontinuallyהַמְעַד",make totterוְעַלand regardingהַמְּעוֹרְרִיןthose who contestעַלagainstהַכְּהֻנָּהthe Kehunahאָמַרhe saidכֵּן.thusדָּ"אַanother explanation—רָאָהhe sawשֶׁעֲתִידִיןthat they are destinedחַשְׁמוֹנַאיChashmonaiוּבָנָיוand his sonsלְהִלָּחֵםto wage warעִםwithהַיְּוָנִיםthe Greeksוְהִתְפַּלֵּלand he prayedעֲלֵיהֶם,for themלְפִיbecauseשֶׁהָיוּthat they wereמוּעָטִיםfew—י"בtwelveבְּנֵיsons ofחַשְׁמוֹנַאיChashmonaiוְאֶלְעָזָרand Elazar—כְּנֶגֶדagainstכַּמָּהseveralרְבָבוֹת,myriadsלְכָךְthereforeנֶאֱמַרit is saidברךBlessה'Hashemחילוhis armyופעלand the work ofידיוhis handsתרצהaccept favorablyבראשיתBereishisרבהRabbahצ"ט99:
רַשִׁ״י
ומשנאיוand those who hate himמןfromיקומון.rising upמְחַץsmiteקָמָיוthose who rise against himוּמְשַׂנְאָיוand those who hate himמִהְיוֹתfrom havingלָהֶםto themתְּקוּמָה:a recovery
פָּסוּק ה
Pasuk 5
לְבִנְיָמִןOf Binyaminאָמַרhe saidיְדִידthe beloved ofיְהֹוָהHashemיִשְׁכֹּןshall dwellלָבֶטַחin safetyעָלָיוby HimחֹפֵףHe hoversעָלָיוover himכָּלallהַיּוֹםthe dayוּבֵיןand betweenכְּתֵיפָיוHis shouldersשָׁכֵן׃He dwells
רַשִׁ״י
לבנימןOf Binyaminאמר.he saidלְפִיbecauseשֶׁבִּרְכַּתthat the blessing ofלֵוִיLeviבַּעֲבוֹדַתwas in the service ofהַקָּרְבָּנוֹתthe sacrificesוְשֶׁלand that ofבִּנְיָמִיןBinyaminבְּבִנְיַןwas in the building ofבֵּיתthe House ofהַמִּקְדָּשׁ,the Sanctuaryבְּחֶלְקוֹ,in his portionסְמָכָןhe juxtaposed themזֶהthisלָזֶה,to thisוְסָמַךְand he juxtaposedיוֹסֵףYosefאַחֲרָיו,after himשֶׁאַףfor evenהוּאheמִשְׁכַּןthe Tabernacle ofשִׁילֹהShilohהָיָהwasבָנוּיbuiltבְחֶלְקוֹ,in his portionשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרas it is saidתהליםTehillimע"ח78"וַיִּמְאַסand He rejectedבְּאֹהֶלthe tent ofיוֹסֵףYosefוְגוֹ'",etc.וּלְפִיand becauseשֶׁבֵּיתthat the House ofעוֹלָמִיםEternityחָבִיבis more belovedמִשִּׁילֹהthan Shilohלְכָךְthereforeהִקְדִּיםhe precededבִּנְיָמִיןBinyaminלְיוֹסֵף:before Yosef
רַשִׁ״י
חפףchofefעליו.over himמְכַסֶּהHe coversאוֹתוֹhimוּמֵגֵןand protectsעָלָיו:over him
רַשִׁ״י
כלallהיום.the dayלְעוֹלָם,foreverמִשֶּׁנִּבְחֲרָהfrom when was chosenיְרוּשָׁלַיִםYerushalayimלֹאnotשָׁרְתָהdweltשְׁכִינָהthe Shechinahבְּמָקוֹםin a placeאַחֵר:other
רַשִׁ״י
וביןAnd betweenכתפיוhis shouldersשכן.shall he dwellבְּגֹבַהּon the height ofאַרְצוֹhis landהָיָהwasבֵיתthe House ofהַמִּקְדָּשׁthe Sanctuaryבָּנוּי,builtאֶלָּאexceptשֶׁנָּמוּךְthat it was lowerעֶשְׂרִיםtwentyוְשָׁלוֹשׁand threeאַמָּהcubitsמֵעֵיןfrom the spring ofעֵיטָם,Eitamוְשָׁםand thereהָיָהwasדַעְתּוֹthe intentionשֶׁלofדָּוִדDovidלִבְנוֹתוֹ,to build itכִּדְאִיתָאas it isבִשְׁחִיטַתin the slaughter ofקָדָשִׁיםholy sacrificesזבחיםZevachimנ"ד54אָמְרֵיthey saidנִתְתֵיlet us placeבֵיהּitפּוּרְתָּא,a little lowerמִשּׁוּםbecauseדִּכְתִיבthat it is written"וּבֵיןand betweenכְּתֵפָיוhis shouldersשָׁכֵן"shall he dwell—אֵיןthere is notלְךָto youנָאֶהfinerבַּשּׁוֹרin an oxיוֹתֵרmoreמִכְּתֵפָיו:than his shoulders
Chapter Summaryסִכּוּם

The aliyah begins with Moshe's berachah to Levi, praising their faithfulness at Massah and Meribah, and their selflessness during the cheit ha'egel when they executed Hashem's judgment without showing favoritism to relatives. Moshe blesses them to be the spiritual guides of the nation, teaching the halachos and bringing the ketores and olah offerings on the Mizbeach, while asking Hashem to bless their resources and defeat their adversaries. The aliyah concludes with the berachah to Binyamin, who is promised safety and security, described beautifully as resting securely under Hashem's protection with the Shechinah dwelling between his shoulders in his portion of Eretz Yisrael.

לְמַעֲשֶׂהWhat To Take Home

The Torah is telling us a tremendous chiddush about what it takes to become a true kli for Torah and avodah. When Moshe Rabbeinu blesses Shevet Levi, he praises them for being the ones who said of their parents, brothers, and children, "I consider them not." Rashi brings down that when the Bnei Yisrael sinned, Shevet Levi did not look at family biases or personal connections; they stood up purely for the kavod of Hashem. Because they were מוותר on their own personal feelings and put Hashem's ratzon above everything else, they zocheh to the next pasuk: "They shall teach Your laws to Jacob and Your instructions to Israel."

Lichoira, we would have thought that to be a great rebbe or a marbitz Torah, you just need a good head and a lot of diligence. But the Torah is teaching us that the real key to Torah leadership and influence is the willingness to step outside of your own personal interests and biases. When a Yid is ready to put his own personal touch, his family honor, and his social standing aside because he wants only what Hashem wants, that is when he becomes a vessel worthy of teaching Klal Yisrael.

We all face moments where doing the right thing, the true ratzon Hashem, clashes with our social comfort, our family dynamics, or our personal pride. The yetzer hara whispers that we should compromise just a little bit to keep the peace or to look good in the eyes of others. But the true path of Levi is to have that holy strength to say, "I only see Hashem's truth right now." When you make that kabbalah, Hashem blesses your efforts and gives you the siyata d'Shmaya to influence everyone around you for the good.

Today, when you face a choice where the right thing to do is socially uncomfortable or goes against your personal bias, choose the ratzon of Hashem anyway, without looking at what others will say.

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