Seder Yomi

Chapter Previewהַקְדָּמָה

In this aliyah, Moshe Rabbeinu continues his holy brachos to the shevatim before his histalkus, focusing here on the special partnership of Zevulun and Yissachar, and the strength of Gad. We see the beautiful connection between those who go out to the business world and those who sit and learn Torah, showing how both are essential in the eyes of Hashem.

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

וְלִזְבוּלֻןAnd of Zevulunאָמַרhe saidשְׂמַחrejoiceזְבוּלֻןZevulunבְּצֵאתֶךָin your going outוְיִשָּׂשכָרand Yissacharבְּאֹהָלֶיךָ׃in your tents

רַשִׁ״י

ולזבולןAnd of Zebulunאמר.he saidאֵלּוּtheseחֲמִשָּׁהfiveשְׁבָטִיםtribesשֶׁבֵּרֵךְwhom he blessedבָּאַחֲרוֹנָהat the end—זְבוּלֻןZebulunגָּדGadדָּןDanוְנַפְתָּלִיand Naphtaliוְאָשֵׁרand Asher—כָּפַלhe repeatedשְׁמוֹתֵיהֶםtheir namesלְחַזְּקָםto strengthen themוּלְהַגְבִּירָם,and to empower themלְפִיbecauseשֶׁהָיוּthat they wereחַלָּשִׁיםthe weak onesשֶׁבְּכָלof allהַשְּׁבָטִים,the tribesהֵםtheyהֵםare theyשֶׁהוֹלִיךְwhom he broughtיוֹסֵףYosefלִפְנֵיbeforeפַרְעֹהPharaohשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרas it is saidבראשיתBereishisמ"ז47"וּמִקְצֵהAnd from the leastאֶחָיוof his brothersלָקַחhe tookחֲמִשָּׁהfiveאֲנָשִׁים",menלְפִיbecauseשֶׁנִּרְאִיםthey appearedחַלָּשִׁיםweakוְלֹאso that notיָשִׂיםhe would appointאוֹתָםthemלוֹfor himselfשָׂרֵיofficers ofמִלְחַמְתּוֹ:his war

רַשִׁ״י

שמחRejoiceזבולןZevulunבצאתךin your going outויששכרand Yissacharבאהליך.in your tentsזְבוּלֻןZevulunוְיִשָּׂשכָרand Yissacharעָשׂוּmadeשֻׁתָּפוּת,a partnershipזְבוּלֻןZevulunלְחוֹףat the shore ofיַמִּיםseasיִשְׁכֹּןwould dwellוְיוֹצֵאand go outלִפְרַקְמַטְיָאfor merchandiseבִּסְפִינוֹתin shipsוּמִשְׂתַּכֵּרand earn profitוְנוֹתֵןand giveלְתוֹךְintoפִּיוthe mouth ofשֶׁל·יִשָּׂשכָר,Yissacharוְהֵםand theyיוֹשְׁבִיםsitוְעוֹסְקִיםand occupy themselvesבַּתּוֹרָה,with the TorahלְפִיכָךְthereforeהִקְדִּיםHe mentioned firstזְבוּלֻןZevulunלְיִשָּׂשכָרbefore Yissacharשֶׁתּוֹרָתוֹbecause the Torah ofשֶׁל·יִשָּׂשכָרYissacharעַלbyיְדֵיmeans ofזְבוּלֻןZevulunהָיְתָהwasבראשיתBereishisרבהRabbahצ"ט99:

רַשִׁ״י

שמחRejoiceזבולןZevulunבצאתך.in your going outהַצְלַחbe successfulבְּצֵאתְךָin your going outלִסְחוֹרָה:for merchandise

רַשִׁ״י

ויששכר.And Issacharהַצְלַחsucceedבִּישִׁיבַתin the sitting ofאֹהָלֶיךָyour tentsלַתּוֹרָה,for Torahלֵישֵׁבto sitוּלְעַבֵּרand to intercalateשָׁנִיםyearsוְלִקְבֹּעַand to fixחֳדָשִׁים,monthsכְּמוֹjust asשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרthat it is saidדהי"אDivrei HaYamim Alefי"בtwelve"וּמִבְּנֵיand of the sons ofיִשָּׂשכָרIssacharיוֹדְעֵיknowers ofבִינָהunderstandingלָעִתִּים..for the timesרָאשֵׁיהֶםtheir headsמָאתַיִם",two hundredרָאשֵׁיheads ofסַנְהֶדְרִיןSanhedrinהָיוּthey wereעוֹסְקִיםbusying themselvesבְּכָךְ,with thisוְעַלand according toפִּיthe mouth ofקְבִיעוֹתthe fixings ofעִתֵּיהֶםtheir timesוְעִבּוּרֵיהֶםand their intercalations—

פָּסוּק ב

Pasuk 2

עַמִּיםNationsהַרto the mountainיִקְרָאוּthey shall inviteשָׁםthereיִזְבְּחוּthey shall offerזִבְחֵיsacrifices ofצֶדֶקrighteousnessכִּיforשֶׁפַעthe abundance ofיַמִּיםseasיִינָקוּthey shall suckוּשְׂפוּנֵיand the treasuresטְמוּנֵיhidden inחוֹל׃the sand

רַשִׁ״י

עמים.peoplesשֶׁלofשִׁבְטֵיthe tribes ofיִשְׂרָאֵל:Yisrael

רַשִׁ״י

הרMountainיקראו.they shall callלְהַרto the mountain ofהַמּוֹרִיָּהMoriahיֵאָסְפוּ,they will assembleכָּלeveryאֲסִיפָהassemblyעַלbyיְדֵיmeans ofקְרִיאָהa summonsהִיא,it isוְשָׁםand thereיזבחוthey shall sacrificeבָּרְגָלִיםon the Festivalsזבחיsacrifices ofצדקrighteousness:

רַשִׁ״י

כיforשפעabundance ofימיםseasיינקו.they shall suckיִשָּׂשכָרYissacharוּזְבוּלֻן,and Zevulunוִיהֵאand there will beלָהֶםto themפְּנַאיleisureלַעֲסֹקto engageבַּתּוֹרָה:in the Torah

רַשִׁ״י

ושפניAnd the hidden treasuresטמוניconcealedחול.of the sandכִּסּוּיֵיcoveringsטְמוּנֵיhiddenחוֹל,in the sandטָרִיתtuna fishוְחִלָּזוֹןand chilazonוּזְכוּכִיתand glassלְבָנָהwhiteהַיּוֹצְאִיםthat come outמִןfromהַיָּםthe seaוּמִןand fromהַחוֹל,the sandוּבְחֶלְקוֹand in the portionשֶׁלofיִשָּׂשכָרYissacharוּזְבוּלֻןand Zevulunהָיָהit wasכְּמוֹjust asשֶׁאָמוּרthat is saidבְּמַסֶּכֶתin TractateמְגִלָּהMegillahדףpageו'6a"זְבוּלֻןZevulunעַםis a peopleחֵרֵףthat jeopardizedנַפְשׁוֹits lifeלָמוּת"to dieשופטיםShoftimה'5מִשּׁוּםbecauseדְּ"נַפְתָּלִיthat Naftaliעַלwas onמְרוֹמֵיthe high places ofשָׂדֶה"the fieldשםthere,הָיָהwasמִתְרַעֵםcomplainingזְבוּלֻןZevulunעַלaboutחֶלְקוֹhis portion—לְאָחִיto my brotherנָתַתָּYou gaveשָׂדוֹתfieldsוּכְרָמִיםand vineyardsוְכוּ'etcספריSifrei:

רַשִׁ״י

ושפני.and the hidden treasuresלְשׁוֹןan expression ofכִּסּוּי,coveringכְּמוֹasשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרit is saidמלכיםKingsאIו'6"וַיִּסְפֹּןand he coveredאֶת—הַבַּיִת",the house"וְסָפֻןand coveredבָּאֶרֶז"with cedarירמיהוYirmeyahuכב,22יד14וְתַרְגּוּמוֹand its Targum"וּמְטֹלָלand ceiledבְּכִיּוֹרֵיwith panels ofאַרְזָא".cedarדָּ"אַanother explanation—עמיםpeoplesהרto the mountainיקראוthey shall callעַלbyיְדֵיmeans ofפְּרַקְמַטְיָאthe commerceשֶׁלofזְבוּלֻןZevulunתַּגָּרֵיmerchants ofאֻמּוֹתthe nations ofהעוֹלָםthe worldבָּאִיםcomeאֶלtoאַרְצוֹ,his landוְהוּאand heעוֹמֵדdwellsעַלatהַסְּפָרthe borderוְהֵםand theyאוֹמְרִיםsayהוֹאִילsinceוְנִצְטַעַרְנוּwe troubled ourselvesעַדuntilכָּאןhereנֵלֵךְlet us goעַדuntilיְרוּשָׁלַיִםYerushalayimוְנִרְאֶהand let us seeמַהwhatיִּרְאָתָהּis the deityשֶׁלofאֻמָּהa nationזוֹthisוּמַהand whatמַּעֲשֶׂיהָ,are its practicesוְהֵםand theyרוֹאִיםseeכָּלall ofיִשְׂרָאֵלIsraelעוֹבְדִיםservingלֶאֱלוֹהַּGodאֶחָדoneוְאוֹכְלִיםand eatingמַאֲכָלfoodאֶחָדone—לְפִיbecauseשֶׁהַגּוֹיִםthe non-Jewsאֱלוֹהוֹthe godשֶׁלofזֶהthis oneלֹאis notכֵאלוֹהוֹlike the godשֶׁלofזֶהthat oneוּמַאֲכָלוֹand the foodשֶׁלofזֶהthis oneלֹאis notכְמַאֲכָלוֹlike the foodשֶׁלofזֶהthat one—וְהֵםand theyאוֹמְרִיםsayאֵיןthere is noאֻמָּהnationכְּשֵׁרָהas worthyכְּזוֹas this oneוּמִתְגַּיְּרִיןand they convertשָׁם,thereשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרas it is saidשָׁםthereיִזְבְּחוּthey shall offerזִבְחֵיsacrifices ofצֶדֶקrighteousnessספריSifrei:

רַשִׁ״י

כיforשפעthe abundance ofימיםseasיינקו.they shall suckזְבוּלֻןZevulunוְיִשָּׂשכָרand Yissacharהַיָּםthe seaנוֹתֵןgivesלָהֶםto themמָמוֹןwealthבְּשֶׁפַע:in abundance

פָּסוּק ג

Pasuk 3

וּלְגָדAnd of Gadאָמַרhe saidבָּרוּךְBlessed isמַרְחִיבthe One who enlargesגָּדGadכְּלָבִיאlike a lionשָׁכֵןhe dwellsוְטָרַףand he tearsזְרוֹעַthe armאַףalsoקָדְקֹד׃the crown of head

רַשִׁ״י

ברוךBlessed isמרחיבHe Who enlargesגד.Gadמְלַמֵּדthis teachesשֶׁהָיָהthat wasתְחוּמוֹhis territoryשֶׁלofגָּדGadמַרְחִיבexpandingוְהוֹלֵךְand goingכְּלַפֵּיtowardמִזְרָחthe eastשםthere:

רַשִׁ״י

כלביאas a lionessשכן.he dwellethלְפִיbecauseשֶׁהָיָהthat he wasסָמוּךְnearלַסְּפָר,to the borderלְפִיכָךְthereforeנִמְשַׁלhe is comparedבַּאֲרָיוֹת,to lionsשֶׁכָּלfor allהַסְּמוּכִיםwho are nearלַסְּפָרto the borderצְרִיכִיםmustלִהְיוֹתto beגִּבּוֹרִיםstrongשםthere:

רַשִׁ״י

וטרףand he tearsזרועthe armאףalsoקדקד.the crown of headהֲרוּגֵיהֶןtheir slain onesהָיוּwereנִכָּרִין,recognizableחוֹתְכִיםthey would cutהָרֹאשׁthe headעִםwithהַזְּרוֹעַthe armבְּמַכָּהin a blowאַחַת:single

פָּסוּק ד

Pasuk 4

וַיַּרְאAnd he sawרֵאשִׁיתthe bestלוֹfor himselfכִּיforשָׁםthereחֶלְקַתthe portion ofמְחֹקֵקthe lawgiverסָפוּןis hiddenוַיֵּתֵאand he cameרָאשֵׁיat the head ofעָםthe peopleצִדְקַתthe righteousness ofיְהוָהHashemעָשָׂהhe executedוּמִשְׁפָּטָיוand His ordinancesעִםwithיִשְׂרָאֵל׃Yisrael

רַשִׁ״י

ויראAnd he sawראשיתthe first partלו.for himselfרָאָהHe sawלִטֹּלto takeלוֹfor himselfחֵלֶקa portionבְּאֶרֶץin the land ofסִיחוֹןSichonוְעוֹג,and Ogשֶׁהִיאwhich isרֵאשִׁיתthe beginning ofכִּבּוּשׁthe conquest ofהָאָרֶץ:the Land

רַשִׁ״י

כיBecauseשםthereחלקת.the portion ofכִּיbecauseיָדַעhe knewאֲשֶׁרthatשָׁםthereבְּנַחֲלָתוֹin his inheritanceחלקתthe portion ofשְׂדֵהthe field ofקְבוּרַתthe burial ofמחקקthe lawgiver,וְהוּאand heמֹשֶׁהMosheעי'seeספרי;SifreiסוטהSotahי"ג13:

רַשִׁ״י

ספון.Hiddenאוֹתָהּthatחֶלְקָהportionסְפוּנָהwas hiddenוּטְמוּנָהand concealedמִכָּלfrom everyבְּרִיָּה,creatureשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרas it is saidדבריםDevarimל"ד34"וְלֹאand notיָדַעknewאִישׁany manאֶת—קְבֻרָתוֹ":his burial place

רַשִׁ״י

ויתא.and he cameגָּד:Gad

רַשִׁ״י

ראשיat the head ofעם.the peopleהֵםtheyהָיוּwereהוֹלְכִיןmarchingלִפְנֵיbeforeהֶחָלוּץthe armed forceבְּכִבּוּשׁat the conquest ofהָאָרֶץ,the Landלְפִיbecauseשֶׁהָיוּthat they wereגִּבּוֹרִים,mighty menוְכֵןand soהוּאitאוֹמֵרsays"וְאַתֶּםand youתַּעַבְרוּshall pass overחֲמֻשִׁיםarmedלִפְנֵיbeforeאֲחֵיכֶםyour brothersוְגוֹ'"etc.יהושעYehoshuaא'chapter 1:

רַשִׁ״י

צדקתthe righteousness ofה'Hashemעשה.he didשֶׁהֶאֱמִינוּbecause they verifiedדִבְרֵיהֶםtheir wordsוְשָׁמְרוּand they keptהַבְטָחָתָםtheir promiseלַעֲבֹרto crossאֶת—הַיַּרְדֵּןthe Jordanעַדuntilשֶׁכָּבְשׁוּthat they conqueredוְחָלְקוּ;and they dividedדָּ"אַanother explanation—ויתאand he cameמֹשֶׁהMosheראשיat the head ofעם,the peopleצדקתthe righteousness ofה'Hashemעשהhe didעַלaboutמֹשֶׁהMosheאָמוּרit is saidעי'seeספריSifrei:

Chapter Summaryסִכּוּם

The aliyah begins with the famous bracha to Zevulun and Yissachar, praising Zevulun's success in his seafaring business journeys and Yissachar's dedication in his tents of Torah, noting how they bring the nations to recognize Hashem through their honest dealings and the abundance of the seas. Moshe then blesses Gad, comparing his strength to a fierce lion that tears its prey, and praises Gad for choosing his portion of land on the east side of the Yarden where Moshe's own burial place was hidden, while still leading the chalutzim to fight for the rest of Klal Yisrael and executing Hashem's righteous judgments.

לְמַעֲשֶׂהWhat To Take Home

The Torah is mechadesh a beautiful yesod here in the partnership of Zevulun and Yissachar. Lichoira, we might have thought that only Yissachar, who sits and learns Torah in his tent all day, has a reason to rejoice, while Zevulun, who has to go out to the ports and deal with the business world, is just a helper. But Moshe Rabbeinu tells us, "Rejoice, O Zevulun, on your journeys." The Torah is telling us that when you support Torah, your work itself becomes an avodah, and you share equally in the simchah of the learning.

This is a major chiddush for our daily lives. Sometimes a Yid feels down because he has to spend his day running after a parnasah instead of sitting in the bais medrash. The yetzer hara tries to make him feel like his day is wasted. But the truth is, if you are working to support Torah, to pay yeshiva tuition, and to enable others to learn, your business trips and your office hours are kadosh. You are a full partner in the Torah being learned.

Today, when you go about your work or handle your finances, remember that you are Zevulun. Have in mind that your parnasah is there to support Torah and mitzvos, and do your business with joy, knowing that your work is an integral part of Hashem's plan.