Parsha Q&A - Parshat Vayelech « Ohr Somayach

Parsha Q&A - Parshat Vayelech

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Parsha Q&A

Parshat Vayelech

For the week ending 5 Tishrei 5762 / September 21 & 22, 2001
Contents:
  • Parsha Questions
  • Recommended Reading List
  • Answers to Parsha Questions
  • Back issues of Parsha Q&A
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    • Parsha Questions

    Answers | Contents

    1. How old was Moshe when he died?
    2. Why was Moshe unable “to go out and come in” (31:2)?
    3. What happened to Moshe’s Torah knowledge on the day of his death?
    4. How did Moshe foresee the relationship between Yehoshua and the Elders?
    5. What did Hashem tell Yehoshua concerning his relationship with the Elders?
    6. How often does the hakhel (assembly of the Jewish People) take place?
    7. Why does the Torah call the year of the hakhel the “shemitah year”?
    8. What sections of the Torah does the King read at the hakhel?
    9. In what physical location does the King read at the hakhel?
    10. Why were the men commanded to come to the gathering?
    11. Why were the women commanded to come to the gathering?
    12. Why were the parents commanded to bring their infant children to the gathering?
    13. What does it mean when Hashem hides his face from the Jewish People?
    14. What function does the song Ha’azinu serve?
    15. Where was the Torah that was written by Moshe placed?
    16. What was the normal manner of assembling the congregation? Why was it not done that way for the teaching of Ha’azinu?
    17. In 30:19, Moshe called upon the heavens and the earth as witnesses, and in 31:28, he does so again. What is the difference between the two times?
    18. What did Moshe claim the Jewish People would do immediately after his death?
    19. How long after Moshe’s death were the Jewish People careful in their service of Hashem?
    20. How did Moshe perceive the period in which Yehoshua led the Jewish People?


    I Did Not Know That!

    “Hain (behold), the time is coming for you to die….” (31:14)

    Why did Hashem announce Moshe’s death using the word hain?

    Hain is spelled with the Hebrew letters “hei” (which equals five) and “noon” (which equals 50). These letters are unique in that neither one can pair with another letter to add up to 10 or 100. Alef (1) plus tet (9) equals 10, bet (2) plus chet (8) equals 10, etc. But “Hei” (5) has no such “partner.” The same is true for noon (50); it has no pair among the number from 10 to 90 with which to add up to 100, as the other letters do.

    Because Moshe is unique among the prophets, his leaving this world and entering the next world is announced with the two letters that are unique among the letters.

    Da’at Zekeinim Mi’ba’alei Hatosefot

    Recommended Reading List

    Ramban

    31:1 Bidding Farewell

    31:2 Loss of Knowledge

    31:18 Hiding Redemption
    Sforno

    31:18 Hiding of Hashem

    31:21 Attitude

    Sefer Hachinuch

    612 The Gathering

    613 Writing a Sefer Torah

    Answers to this Week's Questions

    Questions | Contents

    All references are to the verses and Rashi's commentary, unless otherwise stated

    1. 31:2 - Exactly 120.
    2. 31:2 - Hashem did not let him, because the power of leadership was being transferred to Yehoshua.
    3. 31:2 - The well-springs of knowledge were closed up for him.
    4. 31:7 - He foresaw that they would work in partnership.
    5. 31:7 - That he alone would be the leader — for there can only be one leader in each generation.
    6. 31:10 - Once every seven years, in the first year of the new shemitah period.
    7. 31:10 - Because the laws of shemitah still applied to the harvest.
    8. 31:11 - From Devarim: 1:1-6:9; 11:13-21; and 14:22-28:69.
    9. 31:11 - On a wooden platform erected in the azara.
    10. 31:12 - In order to learn.
    11. 31:12 - In order to hear words of Torah.
    12. 31:12 - So that the parents could receive a special reward for bringing them, because they demonstrated how precious Torah learning is even for those who cannot yet understand it.
    13. 31:17 - He ignores their distress.
    14. 31:21 - It comes as a warning to the Jewish People of what will befall them if they abandon Torah.
    15. 31:26 - There are two opinions: It was placed beside the Aron; or it was placed inside the Aron itself.
    16. 31:28 - The Jewish People were normally assembled by blowing the trumpets, however at this time the trumpets had already been hidden away.
    17. 31:28 - In 30:19, he was informing the Jewish People of his intention to call upon them as witnesses. In 31:28, he was actually calling upon them.
    18. 31:29 - Corrupt themselves.
    19. 31:29 - Throughout the entire reign of Yehoshua.
    20. 31:29 - As if he himself were still ruling.
    Written and Compiled by Rabbi Eliyahu Kane & Rabbi Reuven Subar
    General Editor: Rabbi Moshe Newman
    Production Design: Binyamin Rosenstock
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