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Ve-Zot HaBracha (Deuteronomy 33:1 – 34:12)
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Meaning of the Torah portion name
The portion is named Ve-Zot HaBracha, literally “and this is the blessing”, because it describes the blessings Moses gave to the people of Israel before his death.
This week’s portion is unique in that it is not read on a regular Sabbath, but on a holiday: on the last day of the Festival of Booths a different biblical festival takes place. Throughout history this festival came to include the completion of the cycle of reading the Torah and beginning it again. The holiday is called Simchat Torah, “The joy of the Torah”. Most of the last portion of the Torah is read, over and over again, so that all the participants receive the honor of making a blessing on the Torah. Then the end of the portion is read, and then, immediately, the Torah is started over again with the beginning of the Book of Genesis, in order to show the continuity in the reading.
The blessing of Moses includes a different blessing for each of the tribes of Israel:
| The tribe of Reuben is blessed with life and having plentiful members. | |
| The tribe of Judah is blessed with help against its enemies. | |
| The tribe of Levi is blessed with serving God and teaching the people His laws. | |
| The tribe of Benjamin is blessed that the beloved of God shall be with him. | |
| The sons of Joseph (Ephraim and Manasseh) are blessed with a fruitful land. | |
| Zebulun is blessed in going out and Issachar in their tents. | |
| The tribe of Gad is blessed as an executor of God’s justice. | |
| The tribe of Dan is blessed as a leaping Lion. | |
| The tribe of Naphtali is blessed as full of God’s blessing and inheriting many territories. | |
| The tribe of Asher is blessed as dipping his feet in oil. |
The blessing concludes with a general blessing for all of Israel, living in a fruitful land and having God as their savior.
The Book of Deuteronomy then concludes with a description of how God showed Moses the Land of Canaan before his death. Moses then dies on Mount Nebo, and his death is mourned by the people. The leadership is assumed by Joshua, however, in the conclusion of the Torah we are reminded that there is never again to be another prophet like Moses.
List of dates
| 21 October 2008 (Diaspora 22 October) | |
| 10 October 2009 (Diaspora 11 October) |
Related phrases
portion, Ve-Zot HaBracha, blessing, Moses, death, Torah, simchat torah,