תש”פפ’ וילך
Volume 30, Issue 9
INSIGHTS from the SEDRA
Insights from the Sedra is a project of the Scholar’s Kollel of Great Neck. It aims to provide several questions and answers about the Sedra, culled from various commentaries, including the following: Baal Haturim, Darash Moshe, Vedebarta Bam by Rabbi Moshe Bogomilsky, Torah Treasures by DovFurer, Wellsprings of Torah by Alexander Friedman, and Kol Dodi by Rabbi Dovid Feinstein, Great Torah Lights by Rabbi Yitzchak Meir Goodman, Something To Say by Rabbi Dovid Goldwasser, The Vilna Gaon, Growth Through Torah by Zelig Pliskin and The Call of the Torah.
וילך משה וידבר את הדברים האלה אל כל ישראל
“Moshe went and spoke these words to all of the Jewish people…” (31:1)
The Zohar says that every tzaddik has his own world. Moshe completed his time on this world and went to the special world in Olam Haba that was created for him. Every person in this world needs to be a holech – always moving, always trying to advance his ruchniyus – spirituality. (Pri Tzaddik)
The Midrash Tanchuma teaches that the lashon of “vayeilech” means tochacha, rebuke. Moshe went to every tent in BneiYisrael and gave them mussar. This would be Moshe’s last opportunity to speak with them and try to ensure that they would follow retzon Hashem – the will of G-d. (Pnei David)
There are four periods of teshuvah that are alluded to in the parshiyos that we read during the month of Elul and through the beginning of each year. Rav Moshe Wolfson shlit”a points out that there are thirty verses in Parshas Vayeilech, which can be compared to the thirty days of Elul, after which the perfectly righteous are signed and sealed in the Book of Life. There are forty verses in Nitzavim, which are linked to the forty days from Rosh Chodesh Elul until Yom Kippur, when those of average merit can repent and be inscribed for a good year. There are fifty-two verses in Parshat Ha’azinu which allude to the fifty-two days from the beginning of Elul until Shemini Atzeret, when extra time is given for everyone, even those of minimal merit, to return to Hashem and receive a positive judgement.
The combined total of all the verses in these three parshiyot is 122. This is an allusion to the 122 days from Rosh Chodesh Elul until Zos Chanukah, the last day of Chanukah, when Hashem, in His mercy, still leaves a window open for even the lowest neshamos to come home. (Torah Tavlin)
ויאמר אליהם בן מאה ועשרים שנה אנכי היום
“He said to them, ‘I am a hundred and twenty years old today.’” (31:2)
Perhaps Moshe’s 120 years corresponds to the 120 days that he spent on Har Sinai: forty days before the first Luchot; forty days when he davened that BneiYisrael be forgiven for the cheitha’egel; and forty days before the second Luchot. Torah was given in forty days and a neshama is created in forty days (Menachot 99b).” Perhaps Moshe lived 120 years combined for the neshamos of himself, Aharon and Miriam – forty years for each person, totaling 120 years. (Rabbeinu Bechaye)
לא ירפך
“He will not release you…” (31:6)
As Rashi explains, this verse means that even when we sin, Hashem will not forsake us. Instead, he will forgive our sins and permit us to remain close to Him. Our verse alludes to this, since the letters of ירפך, release you, also spell יכפר, he will forgive. (Kol Dodi)
הקהל את העם האנשים והנשים והטף
“Gather together the people – the men, the women, and the small children…” (31:12)
Rabbi Yechezkel(Chatzkel) Levenstein was once visited by a father who requested a blessing that his son grow up to be a Torah scholar. Reb Chatzkel asked the father, “Do you learn yourself?” The man lowered his eyes and replied, “No, Rebbe.” Reb Chatzkel said, “If you want your son to become a talmid chacham, you must be a living example of sincerity in Torah learning.” (Something to Say)
והיה שם בך עד
“It shall be there for you as a witness…” (31:26)
Moshe commanded the Leviim to place the completed Sefer Torah alongside the Aron in the Kodesh HaKodashim – Holy of Holies. This Sefer Torah would remain there, bearing witness to the Torah that Moshe had taught the nation. For how many generations was that Sefer Torah alongside the Aron? It was placed there by the generation of Nachshon. If we count from Nachshon’s offspring, son after son, it was 22 generations until the Aron was removed and hidden by Yoshiyahu HaMelech (Yoma52b). Our verse states that the Sefer Torah would be בך, for you, a witness. The numerical value of בך is 22. {Kol Dodi}
