Seder Yomi

Chapter Previewהַקְדָּמָה

In this final section of Parshas Ha'Azinu, we find Moshe Rabbeinu finishing the shirah of Ha'Azinu before the entire klal Yisrael, standing together with his talmid Yehoshua. Moshe gives his final, heartfelt chizuk to the Yidden, urging them to place these words deep into their hearts and to pass them on to their children, reminding them that the Torah is not an empty thing, but rather our very life and the key to our arichas yamim on the land.

All introductions, summaries, and contextual notes are the editor's commentary and are not part of the original text.אַלע הַקְדָּמוֹת, סִכּוּמִים, און הערות זענען דעם רעדאַקטאָר'ס באַמערקונגען און זענען נישט קיין טייל פונעם אָריגינעלן טעקסט.

פָּסוּק א

Pasuk 1

וַיָּבֹאAnd cameמֹשֶׁהMosheוַיְדַבֵּרand he spokeאֶת—כָּלall ofדִּבְרֵיthe words ofהַשִּׁירָהthe songהַזֹּאתthisבְּאָזְנֵיin the ears ofהָעָםthe peopleהוּאheוְהוֹשֵׁעַand Hosheaבִּןson ofנוּן׃Nun

רַשִׁ״י

הואHeוהושעand Hosheaבןthe son ofנון.Nunשַׁבָּתthe Shabbosשֶׁלofדְּיוֹזְגִיtwo pairsהָיְתָה,it wasנִטְּלָהwas takenרְשׁוּתauthorityמִזֶּהfrom this oneוְנִתְּנָהand was givenלָזֶה,to this oneהֶעֱמִידappointedלוֹfor himמֹשֶׁהMosheמְתֻרְגְּמָןa spokesmanלִיהוֹשֻׁעַfor Yehoshuaשֶׁיְּהֵאthat he shouldדוֹרֵשׁlectureבְּחַיָּיו,in his lifetimeכְּדֵיin orderשֶׁלֹּאthat notיֹאמְרוּshould sayיִשְׂרָאֵלYisraelבְּחַיֵּיin the lifetime ofרַבְּךָyour teacherלֹאnotהָיָהwasלְךָfor youלְהָרִיםto raiseרֹאשׁ;headוְלָמָּהand whyקוֹרְאֵהוּdoes it call himכָּאןhereהוֹשֵׁעַ?Hosheaלוֹמַרto sayשֶׁלֹּאthat notזָחָהgrew haughtyדַעְתּוֹhis mindעָלָיוupon himשֶׁאַעַ"פִּthat even thoughשֶׁנִּתְּנָהthat was givenלוֹto himגְּדֻלָּהgreatnessהִשְׁפִּילhe humbledעַצְמוֹhimselfכַּאֲשֶׁרasמִתְּחִלָּתוֹfrom his beginningעי'seeספריSifrei:

פָּסוּק ב

Pasuk 2

וַיְכַלAnd finishedמֹשֶׁהMosheלְדַבֵּרto speakאֶת—כָּלall ofהַדְּבָרִיםthe wordsהָאֵלֶּהtheseאֶלtoכָּלall ofיִשְׂרָאֵל׃Yisrael

פָּסוּק ג

Pasuk 3

וַיֹּאמֶרAnd he saidאֲלֵהֶםto themשִׂימוּSetלְבַבְכֶםyour heartsלְכָלto allהַדְּבָרִיםthe wordsאֲשֶׁרthatאָנֹכִיIמֵעִידtestifyבָּכֶםagainst youהַיּוֹםtodayאֲשֶׁרwhichתְּצַוֻּםyou shall commandאֶת—בְּנֵיכֶםyour childrenלִשְׁמֹרto be carefulלַעֲשׂוֹתto performאֶת—כָּלallדִּבְרֵיthe words ofהַתּוֹרָהthis Torahהַזֹּאת׃this

רַשִׁ״י

שימוSetלבבכם.your heartsצָרִיךְneedsאָדָםa manשֶׁיִּהְיוּthat should beעֵינָיוhis eyesוְלִבּוֹand his heartוְאָזְנָיוand his earsמְכֻוָּנִיםdirectedלְדִבְרֵיto the words ofתוֹרָה,Torahוְכֵןand soהוּאitאוֹמֵרsays"בֶּןSon ofאָדָםmanרְאֵהseeבְעֵינֶיךָwith your eyesוּבְאָזְנֶיךָand with your earsשְׁמַעhearוְשִׂיםand setלִבְּךָ"your heartיחזקאלYechezkelמ'chapter 40;וַהֲרֵיand beholdדְבָרִיםthe matters areקַלa lightוָחֹמֶרand heavy argumentוּמַהand ifתַּבְנִיתthe model ofהַבַּיִתthe Templeשֶׁהוּאwhich isנִרְאֶהvisibleלָעֵינַיִםto the eyesוְנִמְדָדand measuredבְּקָנֶהwith a rodצָרִיךְneedsאָדָםa manשֶׁיִּהְיוּthat should beעֵינָיוhis eyesוְאָזְנָיוand his earsוְלִבּוֹand his heartמְכֻוָּנִין,directedלְהָבִיןto understandדִּבְרֵיthe words ofתוֹרָהTorahשֶׁהֵןwhich areכַּהֲרָרִיןlike mountainsתְּלוּיִיןsuspendedבִּשְׂעָרָהon a hairעַלuponאַחַתoneכַּמָּהhow muchוְכַמָּהand how muchספריSifrei:

פָּסוּק ד

Pasuk 4

כִּיForלֹאnotדָבָרa thingרֵקemptyהוּאis itמִכֶּםfrom youכִּיforהוּאitחַיֵּיכֶםis your lifeוּבַדָּבָרand through the thingהַזֶּהthisתַּאֲרִיכוּyou shall prolongיָמִיםdaysעַלuponהָאֲדָמָהthe landאֲשֶׁרthatאַתֶּםyouעֹבְרִיםare crossingאֶת—הַיַּרְדֵּןthe Jordanשָׁמָּהthereלְרִשְׁתָּהּ׃to possess it

רַשִׁ״י

כיForלאnotדברa thingרקemptyהואis itמכם.from youלֹאnotלְחִנָּםfor nothingאַתֶּםare youיְגֵעִיםlaboringבָּהּ,in itכִּיbecauseהַרְבֵּהmuchשָׂכָרrewardתָּלוּיis dependentבָּהּ,on itכיforהואitחייכם;is your lifeדָּ"אַanother explanation—אֵיןthere is notלְךָfor youדָבָרa wordרֵיקָןemptyבַּתּוֹרָהin the Torahשֶׁאִםthat ifתִּדְרְשֶׁנּוּyou expound itשֶׁאֵיןthat there is notבּוֹin itמַתַּןa giving ofשָׂכָר,rewardתֵּדַעknowלְךָfor yourselfשֶׁכֵּןfor soאָמְרוּsaidחֲכָמִיםthe Sages"וַאֲחוֹתand the sister ofלוֹטָןLotanתִּמְנָע"was TimnaבראשיתBereishisל"ו36"וְתִמְנַעand Timnaהָיְתָהwasפִילֶגֶשׁa concubineוְגוֹ'",etcלְפִיbecauseשֶׁאָמְרָהshe saidאֵינִיI am notכְדַאיworthyלִהְיוֹתto beלוֹto himאִשָּׁהa wifeהַלְוַאיwould thatוְאֶהְיֶהI will beפִילַגְשׁוֹ,his concubineוְכָלand allכָּךְthisלָמָּה?whyלְהוֹדִיעַto make knownשִׁבְחוֹthe praiseשֶׁלofאַבְרָהָםAvrahamשֶׁהָיוּthat there wereשִׁלְטוֹנִיםrulersוּמְלָכִיםand kingsמִתְאַוִּיםdesiringלִדַּבֵּקto clingבְּזַרְעוֹto his seedספריSifrei:

פָּסוּק ה

Pasuk 5

וַיְדַבֵּרAnd spokeיְהוָהHashemאֶלtoמֹשֶׁהMosheבְּעֶצֶםin the strength ofהַיּוֹםthe dayהַזֶּהthisלֵאמֹר׃saying

רַשִׁ״י

וידברAnd He spokeה'HashemאלtoמשהMosheבעצםin the strength ofהיוםthe dayהזה.thisבִּשְׁלוֹשָׁהIn threeמְקוֹמוֹתplacesנֶאֱמַרit is saidבְּעֶצֶםin the strength ofהַיּוֹםthe dayהַזֶּה,thisנֶאֱמַרit is saidבְּנֹחַregarding Noach"בְּעֶצֶם"in the strength ofהַיּוֹםthe dayהַזֶּהthisבָּאenteredנֹחַNoachוְגוֹ'"etc."בראשיתBereishisז'7—בְּמַרְאִיתin the appearance ofאוֹרוֹthe light ofשֶׁל·יוֹם,dayלְפִיbecauseשֶׁהָיוּthat wereבְנֵיthe people ofדוֹרוֹhis generationאוֹמְרִיםsayingבְּכָךְby thisוְכָךְand by thatאִםifאָנוּweמַרְגִּישִׁיןnoticeבּוֹ,himאֵיןnotאָנוּweמַנִּיחִיןallowאוֹתוֹhimלִכָּנֵסto enterבַּתֵּבָה,into the arkוְלֹאand notעוֹדonly thatאֶלָּאbutאָנוּweנוֹטְלִיןwill takeכַּשִּׁילִיןaxesוְקַרְדֻּמּוֹתand hatchetsוּמְבַקְּעִיןand splitאֶת—הַתֵּבָה,the arkאָמַרsaidהַקָּבָּ"הthe Holy One blessed be Heהֲרֵינִיbehold I amמַכְנִיסוֹbringing him inבַּחֲצִיin the middle ofהַיּוֹםthe dayוְכָלand anyoneמִיwhoשֶׁיֵּשׁhasבְּיָדוֹin his handכֹחַpowerלִמְחוֹתto preventיָבֹאlet him comeוְיִמְחֶה;and preventבְּמִצְרַיִםIn Egyptנֶאֱמַרit is said"בְּעֶצֶם"in the strength ofהַיּוֹםthe dayהַזֶּהthisהוֹצִיאbrought outה'"Hashem"שמותShemosי"ב12,לְפִיbecauseשֶׁהָיוּthat wereמִצְרִיִּיםEgyptiansאוֹמְרִיםsayingבְּכָךְby thisוְכָךְand by thatאִםifאָנוּweמַרְגִּישִׁיןnoticeבָּהֶם,themאֵיןnotאָנוּweמַנִּיחִיןallowאוֹתָםthemלָצֵאת,to leaveוְלֹאand notעוֹדonly thatאֶלָּאbutאָנוּweנוֹטְלִיןwill takeסְיָפוֹתswordsוּכְלֵיand weapons ofזַיִןarmourוְהוֹרְגִיןand killבָּהֶם,themאָמַרsaidהַקָּבָּ"הthe Holy One blessed be Heהֲרֵינִיbehold I amמוֹצִיאָןbringing them outבַּחֲצִיin the middle ofהַיּוֹםthe dayוְכָלand anyoneמִיwhoשֶׁיֵּשׁhasבּוֹin himכֹחַpowerלִמְחוֹתto preventיָבֹאlet him comeוְיִמְחֶה;and preventאַףEvenכָּאןhereבְּמִיתָתוֹat the deathשֶׁלofמֹשֶׁהMosheנֶאֱמַרit is said"בְּעֶצֶם"in the strength ofהַיּוֹםthe dayהַזֶּה",this"לְפִיbecauseשֶׁהָיוּthat wereיִשְׂרָאֵלIsraelאוֹמְרִיםsayingבְּכָךְby thisוְכָךְand by thatאִםifאָנוּweמַרְגִּישִׁיןnoticeבּוֹhim—אֵיןnotאָנוּweמַנִּיחִיןallowאוֹתוֹ,himאָדָםthe manשֶׁהוֹצִיאָנוּwho brought us outמִמִּצְרַיִםfrom Egyptוְקָרַעand splitלָנוּfor usאֶת—הַיָּםthe seaוְהוֹרִידand brought downלָנוּfor usאֶת—הַמָּןthe mannaוְהֵגִיזand broughtלָנוּfor usאֶת—הַשְּׂלָוthe quailוְהֶעֱלָהand made riseלָנוּfor usאֶת—הַבְּאֵרthe wellוְנָתַןand gaveלָנוּfor usאֶת—הַתּוֹרָה,the Torahאֵיןnotאָנוּweמַנִּיחִיןallowאוֹתוֹ,himאָמַרsaidהַקָּבָּ"הthe Holy One blessed be Heהֲרֵינִיbehold I amמַכְנִיסוֹbringing him inבַחֲצִיin the middle ofהַיּוֹםthe dayוְכוּ'etc.ספריSifrei:

פָּסוּק ו

Pasuk 6

עֲלֵהAscendאֶלtoהַרthe mountain ofהָעֲבָרִיםthe Abarimהַזֶּהthisהַרthe mountain ofנְבוֹNevoאֲשֶׁרwhichבְּאֶרֶץis in the land ofמוֹאָבMoavאֲשֶׁרwhichעַלis uponפְּנֵיthe face ofיְרֵחוֹYerichoוּרְאֵהand seeאֶת—אֶרֶץthe land ofכְּנַעַןKenaanאֲשֶׁרwhichאֲנִיIנֹתֵןam givingלִבְנֵיto the children ofיִשְׂרָאֵלYisraelלַאֲחֻזָּה׃for a possession

פָּסוּק ז

Pasuk 7

וּמֻתand dieבָּהָרon the mountainאֲשֶׁרthatאַתָּהyouעֹלֶהare ascendingשָׁמָּהthereוְהֵאָסֵףand be gatheredאֶלtoעַמֶּיךָyour peopleכַּאֲשֶׁרjust asמֵתdiedאַהֲרֹןAharonאָחִיךָyour brotherבְּהֹרon Horהָהָרthe mountainוַיֵּאָסֶףand was gatheredאֶלtoעַמָּיו׃his people

רַשִׁ״י

כאשרasמתdiedאהרןAaronאחיך.your brotherבְּאוֹתָהּwith thatמִיתָהdeathשֶׁרָאִיתָwhich you sawוְחָמַדְתָּand you desiredאוֹתָהּ,itשֶׁהִפְשִׁיטfor strippedמֹשֶׁהMosheאֶת—אַהֲרֹןAaronבֶּגֶדgarmentרִאשׁוֹןfirstוְהִלְבִּישׁוֹand clothed himלְאֶלְעָזָרElazarוְכֵןand soשֵׁנִיsecondוְכֵןand soשְׁלִישִׁיthirdוְרָאָהand he sawבְּנוֹhis sonבִּכְבוֹדוֹ,in his dignityאָמַרsaidלוֹto himמֹשֶׁה,MosheאַהֲרֹןAaronאָחִיmy brotherעֲלֵהascendלַמִּטָּהto the bedוְעָלָה,and he ascendedפְּשֹׁטstretch outיָדְךָyour handוּפָשַׁט,and he stretchedפְּשֹׁטstretch outרַגְלְךָyour legוּפָשַׁט,and he stretchedעֲצֹםcloseעֵינֶיךָyour eyesוְעָצַם,and he closedקְמֹץcloseפִּיךָyour mouthוְקָמַץ,and he closedוְהָלַךְand he wentלוֹ.his wayאָמַרsaidמֹשֶׁהMoshe—אַשְׁרֵיpraiseworthy isמִיoneשֶׁמֵּתwho diesבְּמִיתָהwith a deathזוֹlike thisספריSifrei:

פָּסוּק ח

Pasuk 8

עַלbecauseאֲשֶׁרthatמְעַלְתֶּםyou broke faithבִּיwith Meבְּתוֹךְin the midst ofבְּנֵיthe children ofיִשְׂרָאֵלYisraelבְּמֵיat the waters ofמְרִיבַתthe strife ofקָדֵשׁKadeshמִדְבַּרthe wilderness ofצִןTzinעַלbecauseאֲשֶׁרthatלֹאnotקִדַּשְׁתֶּםyou sanctifiedאוֹתִיMeבְּתוֹךְin the midst ofבְּנֵיthe children ofיִשְׂרָאֵל׃Yisrael

רַשִׁ״י

עלBecauseאשרof thatמעלתםyou trespassedבי.against Meגְּרַמְתֶּםyou causedלִמְעֹלto trespassבִּי:against Me

רַשִׁ״י

עלBecauseאשרthatלאnotקדשתםyou sanctifiedאותי.Meגְּרַמְתֶּםyou causedלִיto Meשֶׁלֹּאthat notאֶתְקַדֵּשׁ,I was sanctifiedאָמַרְתִּיI saidלָכֶםto you"וְדִבַּרְתֶּםand you shall speakאֶלtoהַסֶּלַע"the rockבמדברBamidbarכ'20וְהֵםand theyהִכּוּהוּsmote itוְהֻצְרְכוּand they neededלְהַכּוֹתוֹto smite itפַעֲמַיִם,twiceוְאִלּוּand ifדִּבְּרוּthey had spokenעִמּוֹwith itוְנָתַןand it gaveמֵימָיוits watersבְּלֹאwithoutהַכָּאָה,strikingהָיָהwould have beenמִתְקַדֵּשׁsanctifiedשֵׁםthe Name ofשָׁמַיִם,Heavenשֶׁהָיוּfor would haveיִשְׂרָאֵלYisraelאוֹמְרִיםbeen sayingוּמַהand whatהַסֶּלַעthe rockשֶׁאֵינוֹwhich is notלְשָׂכָרfor rewardוְלֹאand notלְפֻרְעָנוּת,for punishmentאִםifזָכָהit meritsאֵיןthere is notלוֹto itמַתַּןgiving ofשָׂכָרrewardוְאִםand ifחָטָאit sinsאֵינוֹit is notלוֹקֶה,lashedכָּךְsoמְקַיֵּםfulfillsמִצְוַתthe command ofבּוֹרְאוֹ,its Creatorאָנוּweלֹאnotכָּלallשֶׁכֵּן:the more so

פָּסוּק ט

Pasuk 9

כִּיForמִנֶּגֶדfrom afarתִּרְאֶהyou shall seeאֶת—הָאָרֶץthe landוְשָׁמָּהbut thereלֹאyou shall notתָבוֹאenterאֶלintoהָאָרֶץthe landאֲשֶׁרwhichאֲנִיIנֹתֵןam givingלִבְנֵיto the children ofיִשְׂרָאֵל׃Yisrael

רַשִׁ״י

כיbecauseמנגד.from oppositeמֵרָחוֹק:from afar

רַשִׁ״י

תראהYou shall seeוגו'.etc.אִםifלֹאnotתִרְאֶנָּהyou see itעַכְשָׁו,nowלֹאnotתִרְאֶנָּהwill you see itעוֹדagainבְּחַיֶּיךָ,in your lifetimeעַלthereforeכֵּן·אֲנִיIאוֹמֵרsayלְךָto youעֲלֵהascendוּרְאֵה:and see

רַשִׁ״י

ושמהand thereלאnotתבוא.you shall comeוְיָדַעְתִּיand I knowכִּיthatחֲבִיבָהdearהִיאit isלְךָ,to youעַלthereforeכֵּן·אֲנִיIאוֹמֵרsayלְךָto youעֲלֵהascendוּרְאֵה:and see

Chapter Summaryסִכּוּם

Following this final warning, Hashem commands Moshe Rabbeinu on that very day to ascend Har Nevo in the land of Moav. Hashem tells him to look out and view the beautiful Eretz Canaan that is being given to the Bnei Yisrael, and informs him that he will be nistalefer there on the mountain and gathered to his people, just as his brother Aharon HaKohen passed away on Hor HaHar. Hashem mentions that this was decreed because of the mei merivah where they did not sanctify His name, meaning Moshe is permitted to see the land from afar but is not zocheh to enter it.

לְמַעֲשֶׂהWhat To Take Home

The Torah is telling us a tremendous chiddush here. Moshe Rabbeinu is standing at the very end of his life, preparing to ascend the mountain where he will pass away, and what does he choose to leave us with? He says, "Ki lo davar reik hu mikem, ki hu chayeichem", for it is not an empty thing for you, because it is your very life. Rashi is medayek on this: if it seems empty, it is "mikem", from you, because you are not putting the proper labor and heart into it.

Lichoira, we sometimes look at a mitzvah, a halacha, or a piece of Gemara and it feels dry, empty, or disconnected from our daily reality. We might think the problem is with the Torah itself, or that we are just not "spiritual" enough. But the Torah is teaching us that there is no such thing as an empty space in Yiddishkeit. If a mitzvah feels empty, it is only because we haven't invested ourselves in it yet. The life and the warmth are waiting inside, but they require our "shimu levavchem", our active attention and heart.

When we put our heart into our avodah, the Torah ceases to be a list of dry obligations and becomes our actual life force. Every single halacha we keep, every word of Torah we learn, has the power to fill us with real chiyus. We just have to stop treating these things as routine and start approaching them with the understanding that our entire spiritual existence is wrapped up in them.

Today, take one small mitzvah or a single halacha that you usually do out of habit, and before you perform it, stop for ten seconds to think: "This is not an empty thing; this is my very life." Do it with your whole heart.