Parshas V'zos HaB'racha

Hi everyone, I hope this helps you go into your Shabbos more prepared and I hope you learn something new!

This week’s Parsha is called,

Parshas V’zos HaB’racha (VI-ZOS HAH-BI-RUH-CHUH).

V’zos HaB’racha is the concluding Parsha in what we call the “Torah” (bible) but it is by no means a conclusion of the Torah. Because the Torah is like water, it flows forever and gives its spiritual nourishment to every generation. To show that the Torah is endless, we start the first Parsha of the Chumash (B’rashis) on the same Shabbos we finish V’zos HaB’racha. Another real-life example of how we show and teach that the Torah itself never ends is when one makes a siyum (a celebration upon finishing a piece of Mishnah or Gemora,) some have the custom to start another Mishnah or Gemora at the celebration.

The passuk says in this week’s Parsha: “Torah Tzivah Lonu Moshe Morasha Kihilas Yaakov….” Moses commanded us the law, the inheritance of the congregation of Yaakov (Jacob)." Let's analyze this passage.

Many great rabbunim (plural for Rabbis) explain that the Torah is an eternal gift that Hashem gave to the Jewish people. HaRav Mordechai Gifter zt”l explains that the word Morasha (MI-OH-RUH-SHUH) literally means heritage. He also said the difference between heritage and inheritance is that inheritance is only passed on to the next heir and that heir can do whatever he pleases with it. But, heritage is inherited from generation to generation. So too, the Torah is a heritage from one Jewish generation to the next. The Gemora (Talmud) in Pesachim says on the same passuk (passage) that the word Morasha should be pronounced when read as Miorasa (MI-OH-RUH-SUH), which is translated as married. Because the B’nai Yisroel (Jewish people) and the Torah are so close that the two are described being “married.” The Ramban (Rabbi Moshe Nachmonities) says on the words "Kihilas Yaakov" (the congregation of Jacob) that the Torah is not just a heritage for all those born from Jewish blood, (born from a Jewish mother) but these words also include those people that converted into Judaism.

Knowing that Hashem (the Creator and Master of the universe) gave us, the Jewish nation His Torah, we should be constantly thanking and praising Hashem. Because He gave His most “prized possession” to us!

May we all learn from this that we should try to always set aside time for learning Torah. Torah study is compared to being equal to all the other mitzvahs (commandments) in the Torah and setting our schedules to include daily or weekly Torah study is a way for us to express our gratitude to the Creator of The Universe.

In the upcoming year we should all merit to grow in Torah through effort and commitment. -Amen!

CHAZAK, CHAZAK, VENISCHAZEIK!

(Be Strong! Be Strong! AND may we be strengthened!)

- We have just concluded the fifth and last book of Moses a.k.a. D'varim!

HAVE A GREAT SHABBOS AND WEEKEND!
Stay tuned as we “start over” with Parshas B’rashis!