Seder Yomi

Chapter Previewהַקְדָּמָה

In this final, deeply moving aliyah of the Torah, we stand with Moshe Rabbeinu as he ascends from the plains of Moav to the top of Har Nevo. Hashem shows him the entire Eretz Yisrael in all its beauty and future history, from Gilad until Dan, and reassures him that this is indeed the land promised to the Avos. Although Moshe is shown the land with his own eyes, Hashem tells him that he will not cross over to enter it.

We then read of the histalkus of Moshe Rabbeinu, the loyal servant of Hashem, who passes away at the age of one hundred and twenty with his physical strength and vision completely undimmed. The Torah describes his burial by Hashem in an unknown place, the thirty days of mourning kept by Bnei Yisrael, the transition of leadership to Yehoshua bin Nun, and a final, eternal tribute to Moshe's unmatched prophecy and the awesome miracles he performed before the eyes of all Yisrael.

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

וַיַּעַלAnd he went upמֹשֶׁהMosheמֵעַרְבֹתfrom the plains ofמוֹאָבMoavאֶלtoהַרMountנְבוֹNevoרֹאשׁthe summit ofהַפִּסְגָּהthe Pisgahאֲשֶׁרwhich isעַלuponפְּנֵיthe face ofיְרֵחוֹYerichoוַיַּרְאֵהוּand Hashem showed himיְהוָהHashemאֶת—כָּלall ofהָאָרֶץthe landאֶת—הַגִּלְעָדthe Giladעַדuntilדָּן׃Dan

רַשִׁ״י

מערבתFrom the plains ofמואבMoabאלtoהרMountנבו.NeboכַּמָּהSeveralמַעֲלוֹתstepsהָיוּthere wereוּפְסָעָןand stepped themמֹשֶׁהMosheבִּפְסִיעָהin a stepאַחַתoneסוטהSotahי"ג13b:

רַשִׁ״י

את—כלall ofהארץ.the landהֶרְאָהוּHe showed himאֶת—כָּלall ofאֶרֶץthe land ofיִשְׂרָאֵלYisraelבְּשַׁלְוָתָהּ,in its tranquilityוְהַמְּצִּיקִיןand the oppressorsהָעֲתִידִיםwho are destinedלִהְיוֹתto beמְצִיקִיןoppressingלָהּ:her

רַשִׁ״י

עדUntilדן.DanהֶרְאָהוּHe showed himבְנֵיthe children ofדָןDanעוֹבְדִיםservingעֲבוֹדַהworshipזָרָה,foreignשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרas it is saidשופטיםShoftimי"ח18"וַיָּקִימוּand they set upלָהֶםfor themselvesבְּנֵיthe children ofדָןDanאֶת—הַפֶּסֶל",the imageוְהֶרְאָהוּand He showed himשִׁמְשׁוֹןShimshonשֶׁעָתִידwho is destinedלָצֵאתto emergeמִמֶּנּוּfrom himלְמוֹשִׁיעַ:as a savior

פָּסוּק ב

Pasuk 2

וְאֵתand —כָּלall ofנַפְתָּלִיNaftaliוְאֶתand —אֶרֶץthe land ofאֶפְרַיִםEfraimוּמְנַשֶּׁהand Menasheוְאֵתand —כָּלall ofאֶרֶץthe land ofיְהוּדָהYehudahעַדuntilהַיָּםthe seaהָאַחֲרוֹן׃the hindmost

רַשִׁ״י

ואתAnd —כלall ofנפתלי.NaftaliהֶרְאָהוּHe showed himאַרְצוֹhis landבְּשַׁלְוָתָהּin its tranquilityוְחֻרְבָּנָהּ,and its destructionוְהֶרְאָהוּand He showed himדְּבוֹרָהDevorahוּבָרָקand Barakמִקֶּדֶשׁfrom KedeshנַפְתָּלִיNaftaliנִלְחָמִיםwarringעִםwithסִיסְרָאSiseraוַחֲיָלוֹתָיו:and his armies

רַשִׁ״י

ואתAnd —ארץthe land ofאפריםEphraimומנשה.and ManassehהֶרְאָהוּHe showed himאַרְצָםtheir landבְּשַׁלְוָתָהּin its prosperityוּבְחֻרְבָּנָהּ,and in its ruinוְהֶרְאָהוּand He showed himיְהוֹשֻׁעַYehoshuaנִלְחָםwarringעִםwithמַלְכֵיthe kings ofכְנַעַןCanaanשֶׁבָּאwho descendedמֵאֶפְרַיִם,from Ephraimוְגִדְעוֹןand Gideonשֶׁבָּאwho descendedמִמְּנַשֶּׁהfrom ManassehנִלְחָםwarringעִםwithמִדְיָןMidianוַעֲמָלֵק:and Amalek

רַשִׁ״י

ואתand —כלall ofארץthe land ofיהודה.Yehudahבְּשַׁלְוָתָהּin its prosperityוּבְחֻרְבָּנָהּ,and in its ruinוְהֶרְאָהוּand He showed himמַלְכוּתthe kingdom ofבֵּיתthe house ofדָּוִדDovidוְנִצְחוֹנָם:and their victory

רַשִׁ״י

עדUntoהיםthe seaהאחרון.the lastאֶרֶץthe land ofהַמַּעֲרָבthe westבְּשַׁלְוָתָהּin its prosperityוּבְחֻרְבָּנָהּ;and in its ruinדָּ"אַanother explanation—אַלdo notתִּקְרֵיreadהַיָּםthe seaהָאַחֲרוֹןthe lastאֶלָּאbut ratherהַיּוֹםthe dayהָאַחֲרוֹן,the lastהֶרְאָהוּHe showed himהַקָּבָּ"הthe Holy One blessed be Heכָּלallהַמְּאֹרָעוֹתthe eventsשֶׁעֲתִידִיןthat are destinedלֵאָרַעto happenלְיִשְׂרָאֵלto Yisraelעַדuntilשֶׁיִּחְיוּthat will liveהַמֵּתִיםthe deadספריSifrei:

פָּסוּק ג

Pasuk 3

וְאֶתand —הַנֶּגֶבthe Negevוְאֶתand —הַכִּכָּרthe Plainבִּקְעַתthe valley ofיְרֵחוֹYerichoעִירthe city ofהַתְּמָרִיםthe date palmsעַדuntilצֹעַר׃Tzoar

רַשִׁ״י

ואתAnd —הנגב.the southאֶרֶץthe land ofהַדָּרוֹם.the southדָּ"אַanother explanation—מְעָרַתthe cave ofהַמַּכְפֵּלָהMachpelahשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרas it is said"וַיַּעֲלוּand they went upבַנֶּגֶבin the southוַיָּבֹאand he cameעַדuntilחֶבְרוֹן"HebronבמדברBamidbarי"גthirteen:

רַשִׁ״י

ואתAnd —הככר.the plainהֶרְאָהוּHe showed himשְׁלֹמֹהShlomoיוֹצֵקcastingכְּלֵיthe vessels ofבֵיתthe House ofהַמִּקְדָּשׁ,the Sanctuaryשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרas it is saidמלכיםMelachimאIז'7"בְּכִכַּרIn the plain ofהַיַּרְדֵּןthe Jordanיְצָקָםcast themהַמֶּלֶךְthe kingבְּמַעֲבֵהin the thickness ofהָאֲדָמָה"the clayספריSifrei:

פָּסוּק ד

Pasuk 4

וַיֹּאמֶרAnd He saidיְהוָהHashemאֵלָיוto himזֹאתthis isהָאָרֶץthe landאֲשֶׁרwhichנִשְׁבַּעְתִּיI sworeלְאַבְרָהָםto Avrahamלְיִצְחָקto Yitzchakוּלְיַעֲקֹבand to Yaakovלֵאמֹרsayingלְזַרְעֲךָto your offspringאֶתְּנֶנָּהI will give itהֶרְאִיתִיךָI have shown youבְעֵינֶיךָwith your eyesוְשָׁמָּהbut thereלֹאnotתַעֲבֹר׃shall you cross

רַשִׁ״י

לאמרto sayלזרעךto your seedאתננהI will give itהראיתיך.I let you seeכְּדֵיin orderשֶׁתֵּלֵךְthat you shall goוְתֹאמַרand sayלְאַבְרָהָםto Avrahamלְיִצְחָקto Yitzchakוּלְיַעֲקֹב,and to Yaakovשְׁבוּעָהthe oathשֶׁנִּשְׁבַּעthat He sworeלָכֶםto youהַקָּבָּ"הthe Holy Oneקִיְּמָהּ.He fulfilled itוְזֶהוּand this isלאמרto say,לְכָךְfor thisהֶרְאִיתִיהָI showed itלְךָ,to youאֲבָלbutגְּזֵרָהa decreeהִיאit isמִלְּפָנַיfrom before Meשֶׁשָּׁמָּהthat thereלאnotתעברyou shall cross,שֶׁאִלּוּלֵיfor if notכָךְsoהָיִיתִיI would haveמְקַיֶּמְךָkept you aliveעַדuntilשֶׁתִּרְאֶהthat you sawאוֹתָםthemנְטוּעִיםplantedוּקְבוּעִיםand settledבָהּin itוְתֵלֵךְand you would goוְתַגִּידand tellלָהֶם:them

פָּסוּק ה

Pasuk 5

וַיָּמָתAnd he diedשָׁםthereמֹשֶׁהMosheעֶבֶדthe servant ofיְהוָהHashemבְּאֶרֶץin the land ofמוֹאָבMoavעַלbyפִּיthe mouth ofיְהוָה׃Hashem

רַשִׁ״י

וימתAnd he diedשםthereמשה.Mosheאֶפְשָׁרis it possibleמֹשֶׁהMosheמֵתdiedוְכָתַבand wroteוימתAnd he diedשםthereמשהMoshe?אֶלָּאratherעַדuntilכָּאןhereכָּתַבwroteמֹשֶׁה,Mosheמִכָּאןfrom hereוָאֵילָךְand onwardכָּתַבwroteיְהוֹשֻׁעַ.YehoshuaרַבִּיRabbiמֵאִירMeirאוֹמֵרsaysאֶפְשָׁרis it possibleסֵפֶרthe Book ofהַתּוֹרָהthe Torahחָסֵרwas lackingכְּלוּםanythingוְהוּאand itאוֹמֵרsaysלא,etcכוetc"לָקֹחַTakeאֵת—סֵפֶרthe Book ofהַתּוֹרָהthe Torahהַזֶּה"?thisאֶלָּאratherהַקָּבָּ"הthe Holy Oneאוֹמֵרdictatedוּמֹשֶׁהand Mosheכוֹתֵבwroteבְּדֶמַעwith tearsספרי;Sifreiב"בBava Batraט"ו,15מנחותMenachotל'30:

רַשִׁ״י

עלByפיthe mouth ofה'.Hashemבִּנְשִׁיקָה:with a kiss

פָּסוּק ו

Pasuk 6

וַיִּקְבֹּרAnd He buriedאֹתוֹhimבַגַּיְin the valleyבְּאֶרֶץin the land ofמוֹאָבMoavמוּלoppositeבֵּיתBeisפְּעוֹרPeorוְלֹאand notיָדַעknewאִישׁany manאֶת—קְבֻרָתוֹhis burial placeעַדuntilהַיּוֹםthe dayהַזֶּה׃this

רַשִׁ״י

ויקברAnd He buriedאתו.himהַקָּבָּ"הthe Holy Oneבִּכְבוֹדוֹ.in His gloryרַבִּיRabbiיִשְׁמָעֵאלYishmaelאוֹמֵרsaysהוּאheקָבַרburiedאֶת—עַצְמוֹ,himselfוְזֶהוּand this isאֶחָדoneמִשְּׁלוֹשָׁהof threeאֶתִיןinstances of etשֶׁהָיָהthat wasרַבִּיRabbiיִשְׁמָעֵאלYishmaelדּוֹרֵשׁinterpretingכֵּן.thusכַּיּוֹצֵאsimilarבוֹto it"בְּיוֹםon the day ofמְלֹאתthe fulfillment ofיְמֵיthe days ofנִזְרוֹhis naziritehoodיָבִיאhe shall bringאֹתוֹ"himselfבמדברBamidbarו'6—הוּאheמֵבִיאbringsאֶת—עַצְמוֹ.himselfכַּיּוֹצֵאsimilarבוֹto it"וְהִשִּׂיאוּand they will burdenאוֹתָםthemselvesעֲוֹןwith iniquity ofאַשְׁמָה"trespassויקראVayikraכ"ב22וְכִיand didאֲחֵרִיםothersמַשִּׂיאִיןburdenאוֹתָם?themאֶלָּאratherהֵםtheyמַשִּׂיאִיםburdenאֶת—עַצְמָם:themselves

רַשִׁ״י

מולoppositeביתthe house ofפעור.Peorקִבְרוֹhis graveהָיָהwasמוּכָןpreparedשָׁםthereמִשֵּׁשֶׁתfrom the sixיְמֵיdays ofבְרֵאשִׁיתCreationלְכַפֵּרto atoneעַלforמַעֲשֵׂהthe deed ofפְעוֹר,Peorוְזֶהand thisאֶחָדoneמִןofהַדְּבָרִיםthe thingsשֶׁנִּבְרְאוּthat were createdבֵּיןbetweenהַשְּׁמָשׁוֹתthe sunsבְּעֶרֶבon the eve ofשַׁבָּתShabbosאבותAvosפ"ד;chapter fourפסחיםPesachimנ"דfifty-four:

פָּסוּק ז

Pasuk 7

וּמֹשֶׁהAnd Mosheבֶּןwas a son ofמֵאָהone hundredוְעֶשְׂרִיםand twentyשָׁנָהyearsבְּמֹתוֹat his deathלֹאnotכָהֲתָהdid dimעֵינוֹhis eyeוְלֹאand notנָסdid fleeלֵחֹה׃his freshness

רַשִׁ״י

לאnotכהתהwas dimעינו.his eyeאַףevenמִשֶּׁמֵּת:after he died

רַשִׁ״י

לאnotנסfledלחה.his freshnessלַחְלוּחִיתthe moistureשֶׁבּוֹ,that was in himלֹאnotשָׁלַטruledבּוֹover himרִקָּבוֹןdecompositionוְלֹאand notנֶהְפַּךְchangedתֹּאַרthe appearance ofפָּנָיו:his face

פָּסוּק ח

Pasuk 8

וַיִּבְכּוּAnd they weptבְנֵיthe children ofיִשְׂרָאֵלYisraelאֶת—מֹשֶׁהMosheבְּעַרְבֹתin the plains ofמוֹאָבMoavשְׁלֹשִׁיםthirtyיוֹםdaysוַיִּתְּמוּand they endedיְמֵיthe days ofבְכִיthe weeping ofאֵבֶלthe mourning ofמֹשֶׁה׃Moshe

רַשִׁ״י

בניThe children ofישראל.Yisraelהַזְּכָרִים,the malesאֲבָלbutבְּאַהֲרֹןregarding Aharonמִתּוֹךְbecauseשֶׁהָיָהthat he wasרוֹדֵףpursuingשָׁלוֹםpeaceוְנוֹתֵןand placingשָׁלוֹםpeaceבֵּיןbetweenאִישׁa manלְרֵעֵהוּand his fellowוּבֵיןand betweenאִשָּׁהa womanלְבַעְלָהּand her husbandנֶאֱמַרit is saidבמדברBamidbarכ,20כט29"כֹּלthe entireבֵּיתhouse ofיִשְׂרָאֵל"Yisrael—זְכָרִיםmalesוּנְקֵבוֹתand femalesפרדר"אPirkei DeRabbi Eliezerפי"זchapter 17:

פָּסוּק ט

Pasuk 9

וִיהוֹשֻׁעַAnd Yehoshuaבִּןson ofנוּןNunמָלֵאwas filled withרוּחַthe spirit ofחָכְמָהwisdomכִּיbecauseסָמַךְlaidמֹשֶׁהMosheאֶת—יָדָיוhis handsעָלָיוupon himוַיִּשְׁמְעוּand they heededאֵלָיוhimבְּנֵיthe children ofיִשְׂרָאֵלYisraelוַיַּעֲשׂוּand they didכַּאֲשֶׁרasצִוָּהcommandedיְהוָהHashemאֶת—מֹשֶׁה׃Moshe

פָּסוּק י

Pasuk 10

וְלֹאAnd notקָםaroseנָבִיאa prophetעוֹדagainבְּיִשְׂרָאֵלin Yisraelכְּמֹשֶׁהlike Mosheאֲשֶׁרwhomיְדָעוֹknew himיְהוָהHashemפָּנִיםfaceאֶלtoפָּנִים׃face

רַשִׁ״י

אשרWhomידעוknew himה'Hashemפניםfaceאלtoפנים.faceשֶׁהָיָהthat wasלִבּוֹhis heartגַּסfamiliarבּוֹwith Himוּמְדַבֵּרand speakingאֵלָיוto Himבְּכָלat everyעֵתtimeשֶׁרוֹצֶה,that he desiredכָּעִנְיָןlike the matterשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרas it is said"וְעַתָּהand nowאֶעֱלֶהI will ascendאֶלtoה'"HashemשמותShemosל"ב32,"עִמְדוּstandוְאֶשְׁמְעָהand I will hearמַהwhatיְּצַוֶּהHe will commandלָכֶם"concerning youבמדברBamidbarט'9:

פָּסוּק יא

Pasuk 11

לְכָלfor allהָאֹתוֹתthe signsוְהַמּוֹפְתִיםand the wondersאֲשֶׁרthatשְׁלָחוֹsent himיְהוָהHashemלַעֲשׂוֹתto performבְּאֶרֶץin the land ofמִצְרָיִםMitzrayimלְפַרְעֹהto Pharaohוּלְכָלand to allעֲבָדָיוhis servantsוּלְכָלand to allאַרְצוֹ׃his land

פָּסוּק יב

Pasuk 12

וּלְכֹלand for allהַיָּדthe handהַחֲזָקָהstrongוּלְכֹלand for allהַמּוֹרָאthe terrorהַגָּדוֹלgreatאֲשֶׁרwhichעָשָׂהperformedמֹשֶׁהMosheלְעֵינֵיbefore the eyes ofכָּלall ofיִשְׂרָאֵל׃Yisrael

רַשִׁ״י

ולכלand in allהידthe handהחזקה.the strongשֶׁקִּבֵּלthat he receivedאֶת—הַתּוֹרָהthe Torahבַּלּוּחוֹתon the Tabletsבְּיָדָיו:in his hands

רַשִׁ״י

ולכלand in allהמוראthe terriblenessהגדול.the greatנִסִּיםmiraclesוּגְבוּרוֹתand mighty deedsשֶׁבַּמִּדְבָּרthat were in the wildernessהַגָּדוֹלthe greatוְהַנּוֹרָאand the terribleעי'seeספריSifrei:

רַשִׁ״י

לעיניbefore the eyes ofכלall ofישראל.Yisraelשֶׁנְּשָׂאוֹthat carried himלִבּוֹhis heartלִשְׁבֹּרto breakהַלּוּחוֹתthe Tabletsלְעֵינֵיהֶםbefore their eyesשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרas it is said"וָאֲשַׁבְּרֵםand I broke themלְעֵינֵיכֶם"before your eyesדבריםDevarimט'9וְהִסְכִּימָהand agreedדַעַתthe mind ofהַקָּדוֹשׁthe Holy Oneבָּרוּךְblessedהוּאis Heלְדַעְתּוֹ,with his mindשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרas it is said"אֲשֶׁרwhichשִׁבַּרְתָּ"you brokeשמותShemosל"ד34—יִישַׁרmay it be straightכֹּחֲךָyour strengthשֶׁשִּׁבַּרְתָּ:because you broke

Chapter Summaryסִכּוּם

The aliyah traces the final moments of Moshe Rabbeinu as he views the Promised Land from Har Nevo, followed by his death and burial by Hashem in the valley of Moav. After Bnei Yisrael complete their thirty days of mourning, the leadership transitions smoothly to Yehoshua, who is filled with the spirit of wisdom. The Torah concludes with a powerful praise of Moshe Rabbeinu, establishing that no other prophet ever arose in Yisrael with his level of face-to-face prophecy, nor with the capacity to perform the awesome signs and wonders that Moshe displayed before Pharaoh in Mitzrayim and in the sight of all Yisrael.

לְמַעֲשֶׂהWhat To Take Home

The Torah ends with the ultimate praise of Moshe Rabbeinu, highlighting "all the great might and awesome power that Moshe displayed before all Israel." Rashi is immediately bothered by this: what was this greatest, most awesome act that crowns the entire Torah? Rashi brings the Chazal that this refers to Moshe breaking the Luchos, the Tablets, after the Chet HaEgel, and that Hashem agreed with his decision. Lichoira, this is mind-boggling. Of all the miracles, the splitting of the sea, the giving of the Torah, the Manna, the greatest praise of Moshe is that he broke the Luchos?

The yeshivish sevara here is deep and touches the very core of our avodah. When Moshe saw the Yidden worshipping the golden calf, he realized that giving them the holy Luchos in that state would completely destroy them, as they would be liable for betraying the Torah they just received. Moshe made a painful, terrifying decision to shatter the holiest object on earth to protect the neshamos of Klal Yisrael. He put his own spiritual standing on the line, willing to destroy the Luchos, just to save his people. This teaches us that the ultimate purpose of the entire Torah is the connection and survival of the Jewish people.

Mimeila, we see that true greatness in Torah is not just about personal spiritual heights or holding onto abstract holiness. It is about having the responsibility and the heart to care for another Yid, even when they are far, and doing whatever it takes to help them. Hashem agreed with Moshe because Moshe understood that the neshama of a Yid is even holier than the Luchos themselves.

Today, look at someone in your life who might be struggling spiritually or emotionally. Instead of holding onto your own comfort or spiritual bubble, step out of your way to show them warmth, judge them favorably, or offer a helping hand, remembering that caring for Hashem's children is the greatest crown of the Torah.