Aspect | Description |
---|---|
Parasha Number | The 54th and final Parasha in the Torah and the 11th in the Book of Deuteronomy (Devarim). |
Parasha Name | VeZot HaBeracha (וְזֹאת הַבְּרָכָה), meaning “This is the Blessing,” referring to Moses’ blessings for the tribes of Israel before his death. |
Torah Book | Deuteronomy (Devarim). |
Number of Verses | Comprises 41 verses. |
Number of Words | Approximately 512 words in the Hebrew text. |
Primary Characters | Moses, God, the tribes of Israel. |
Key Themes | Moses’ blessings for each tribe, the vision of the Promised Land, Moses’ death, and the continuity of leadership through Joshua. |
Significant Events | Moses ascends Mount Nebo, views the Promised Land, blesses the tribes of Israel, and dies at 120 years old. Joshua takes over leadership of the Israelites. |
Notable Quotes | “And Moses, the servant of the Lord, died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the Lord” (Deuteronomy 34:5). |
Legacy | VeZot HaBeracha closes the Torah, emphasizing the importance of blessings, leadership, and the eternal covenant between God and the Israelites. |
Relevance Today | Themes of leadership, transition, and blessings continue to resonate, especially in moments of personal or communal change and reflection on spiritual heritage. |
Well-Known Stories | Moses blessing each of the twelve tribes and his final ascent to Mount Nebo, where he sees the Promised Land but is not allowed to enter. |
Special Observances | Read on Simchat Torah, celebrating the completion and immediate restarting of the Torah reading cycle. |
Connections to Texts | VeZot HaBeracha concludes the teachings of Deuteronomy, with parallels to earlier blessings in Genesis, such as those of Jacob to his sons. |
Theological Significance | Highlights themes of continuity, leadership succession, and the fulfillment of God’s promises, reinforcing the everlasting relationship between God and His people. |
VeZot HaBeracha (וְזֹאת הַבְּרָכָה) is the final portion of the Torah, concluding the fifth book of Deuteronomy. In Hebrew, “VeZot HaBeracha” means “This is the Blessing,” aptly named as it contains the blessings Moses bestows upon the Israelites before his death.
This portion holds a unique place, not only marking the end of the Torah but also serving as a transition between the Israelites’ wilderness journey and their entrance into the Promised Land. In it, Moses ascends Mount Nebo, where God allows him a vision of the entire land of Israel. Though Moses is not permitted to enter the land himself, he blesses each of the twelve tribes, offering words of encouragement, guidance, and prophecy about their future roles.
Moses’ blessings are poetic and metaphorical, tailored to the unique characteristics of each tribe, and emphasizing themes of unity, faithfulness, and adherence to God’s commandments. These blessings highlight the destiny of each tribe, underscoring the eternal covenant between God and Israel and the importance of passing down Torah teachings to future generations.
A central theme in VeZot HaBeracha is the continuity of the divine relationship between God and the Jewish people. Moses’ blessings reflect the eternal nature of this bond, reaffirming the Israelites’ duty to uphold God’s commandments and their unity as a nation.
Additionally, this portion is a reflection of Moses’ enduring leadership. Even at the end of his life, he continues to guide and inspire, ensuring the Israelites are spiritually prepared for their future challenges in the Promised Land. His blessings serve as a legacy, representing his unwavering faith and devotion to God and His people.
In summary, VeZot HaBeracha offers a powerful and poignant conclusion to the Torah, reaffirming the significance of faith, unity, and obedience to God’s commandments, while emphasizing the everlasting nature of the covenant between God and His people.
וזאת הברכה
V’Zot HaBerachah
Deuteronomy 33:1
יהוה came from Sinai,
And shone upon them from Seir;
[God] appeared from Mount Paran,
And approached from Ribeboth-kodesh,
Lightning flashing at them from [God’s] right.
Their hallowed are all in Your hand.
They followed in Your steps,
Accepting Your pronouncements,
As the heritage of the congregation of Jacob.
When the heads of the people assembled,
The tribes of Israel together.
Though few be his numbers.
Hear, יהוה, the voice of Judah
And restore him to his people.
Though his own hands strive for him,
Help him against his foes.
Let Your Thummim and Urim
Be with Your faithful one,
Whom You tested at Massah,
Challenged at the waters of Meribah;
“I consider them not.”
His brothers he disregarded,
Ignored his own children.
Your precepts alone they observed,
And kept Your covenant.
And Your instructions to Israel.
They shall offer You incense to savor
And whole-offerings on Your altar.
And favor his undertakings.
Smite the loins of his foes;
Let his enemies rise no more.
Beloved of יהוה,
He rests securely beside [God],
Who protects him always,
As he rests between God’s shoulders.
Blessed of יהוה be his land
With the bounty of dew from heaven,
And of the deep that couches below;
And the bounteous crop of the moons;
And the bounty of hills immemorial;
And the favor of the Presence in the Bush.
May these rest on the head of Joseph,
On the crown of the elect of his brothers.
He has horns like the horns of the wild-ox;
With them he gores the peoples,
The ends of the earth one and all.
These are the myriads of Ephraim,
Those are the thousands of Manasseh.
Rejoice, O Zebulun, on your journeys,
And Issachar, in your tents.
Where they offer sacrifices of success.
For they draw from the riches of the sea
And the hidden hoards of the sand.
Blessed be the One who enlarges Gad!
Poised is he like a lion
To tear off arm and scalp.
For there is the portion of the revered chieftain,
Where the heads of the people come.
He executed יהוה’s judgments
And God’s decisions for Israel.
Dan is a lion’s whelp
That leaps forth from Bashan.
O Naphtali, sated with favor
And full of יהוה’s blessing,
Take possession on the west and south.
Most blessed of sons be Asher;
May he be the favorite of his brothers,
May he dip his foot in oil.
And your security last all your days.
Riding through the heavens to help you,
Through the skies in His majesty.
A support are the arms everlasting.
He drove out the enemy before you
By His command: Destroy!
Untroubled is Jacob’s abode,
In a land of grain and wine,
Under heavens dripping dew.
A people delivered by יהוה,
Your protecting Shield, your Sword triumphant!
Your enemies shall come cringing before you,
And you shall tread on their backs.
יהושע
Joshua
(Haftarah for Ashkenazim: Joshua 1:1-18)
VeZot HaBeracha
more on Parashat Parashat Vezot Haberakhah: Moses’ Blessing
Quick Guide: The Five Books of Moses
Genesis | Exodus | Leviticus | Numbers | Deuteronomy |
---|---|---|---|---|
Bereshit (1:1-6:8) |
Shemot (1:1-6:1) |
Vayikra (1:1-5:26) |
Bemidbar (1:1-4:20) |
Devarim (1:1-3:22) |
Noach (6:9-11:32) |
Va'era (6:2-9:35) |
Tzav (6:1-8:36) |
Naso (4:21-7:89) |
Va'etchanan (3:23-7:11) |
Lech Lecha (12:1-17:27) |
Bo (10:1-13:16) |
Shemini (9:1-11:47) |
Behaalotecha (8:1-12:16) |
Ekev (7:12-11:25) |
Vayera (18:1-22:24) |
Beshalach (13:17-17:16) |
Tazria (12:1-13:59) |
Shelach (13:1-15:41) |
Re'eh (11:26-16:17) |
Chaye Sarah (23:1-25:18) |
Yitro (18:1-20:23) |
Metzora (14:1-15:33) |
Korach (16:1-18:32) |
Shoftim (16:18-21:9) |
Toledot (25:19-28:9) |
Mishpatim (21:1-24:18) |
Achare Mot (16:1-18:30) |
Chukat (19:1-22:1) |
Ki Tetze (21:10-25:19) |
Vayetze (28:10-32:3) |
Teruma (25:1-27:19) |
Kedoshim (19:1-20:27) |
Balak (22:2-25:9) |
Ki Tavo (26:1-29:8) |
Vayishlach (32:4-36:43) |
Tetzave (27:20-30:10) |
Emor (21:1-24:23) |
Pinchas (25:10-30:1) |
Nitzavim (29:9-30:20) |
Vayeshev (37:1-40:23) |
Ki Tisa (30:11-34:35) |
Behar (25:1-26:2) |
Matot (30:2-32:42) |
Vayelech (31:1-30) |
Miketz (41:1-44:17) | Vayakhel (35:1-38:20) |
Bechukotai (26:3-27:34) |
Masei (33:1-36:13) |
Haazinu (32:1-52) |
Vayigash (44:18-47:27) |
Pekude (38:21-40:38) |
V'Zot HaBeracha (33:1-34:12) |
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Vayechi (47:28-50:26) |
Parashat Chaye Sarah – English reading