V'Zot HaBracha(Deuteronomy 33-34)

V'Zot HaBracha 5765

On Simchas Torah we complete the Torah reading for the year. The last Parasha, V'Zot HaBrachah, is read. Following is a short Rashi from the parsha.

Deuteronomy 34:5

"And Moses, the servant of Hashem, died there in the land of Moab by the word of Hashem."

RASHI

By the word of Hashem - Rashi: With a kiss.

Can you see on what basis Rashi makes his comment that Moses died by a kiss of God?

Your Answer:

UNDERSTANDING RASHI

An Answer: The Torah's Hebrew has the words "al pi Hashem." This means literally "by the mouth of God." Since this is an unusual phrase in this context, Rashi interprets these words to mean "by a kiss."

A P'SHAT INTERPRETATION

The simple meaning of these words is "according to God." But what can that mean here – that Moses died 'according to God'? Isn't it so that everyone who dies, dies "according to God"? As you read the verse, can you make sense of this phrase?

Your Answer:

A P'SHAT UNDERSTANDING

An Answer: The verse says: "Moses died ...in the land of Moab, by the word of God." Moses died in Moab, and not in the land of Israel, as he had longed for. So his dying in Moab was by the word of God. This would seem to be the simple meaning of these words.

Chag Somayach,
Avigdor Bonchek