Friday, October 5, 2012

Parshas Zot Haberacha

 
The final pasha of the Torah, Parshas Zot Haberacha, begins with Moshe blessing the Jewish people before he dies. The entire book of Devarim deals with reproof, where in last week’s parsha Bnai Israel received their final reproof from Moshe, in the prophetic song, Ha’azinu (it described the punishment Bnai Yisrael would endure if they transgressed the Torah).

Now, as the Torah makes its complete conclusion, Moshe ends with blessing the Jews. Moshe bestows a blessing to each tribe of Yaakov, and then he concludes with the praises of Hashem and the Jewish people. Hashem praises were meant to encourage Bnai Yisrael that Hashem will be with them indefinitely, even after Moshe’s death. Moshe’s final blessing was that the Jewish nation would ultimately be rewarded with the delights of the World to Come.

As we conclude the cycle of the parshot, may we all look at the previous year and come to the conclusion that despite our year of self-reproof and self-rebuke, may we look to start this year with our right foot forward.  May we look at the past year and all our accomplishment and shortcomings and remember that despite the struggles, we will ultimately be blessed by Hashem.  May Hashem bless each and every one of us with a year of goodness, happiness, joy, tranquility, and the strength to connect with more of Hashem’s mitzvot and His essence!

Questions to ponder?

After blessing Bnai Israel, Moshe ascends up the mountain…the last eight verses in the Torah conclude with, “ And Moshe, the servant of Hashem, died there in the land of Moav…” Wait! Who exactly wrote these verses if Moshe was the one who ascended up the mountain (back to the spiritual world). Who completed the Torah?! 

Rabbi Hirsch offers the following commentary:
As Hashem dictated the Torah, Moshe repeated it and then wrote it down; however, since the last eight verses were so painful, Moshe wrote them down in his tears and later, Yehoshua filled in the ink.  Additionally, another commentary states that Hashem dictated the letters of last eight verses in mixed combinations to hide their secret meaning, and later Yehoshua was given the proper order.