Vayelech

📜 The Story

In Parshat Vayelech, Moshe Rabbeinu, now 120 years old, goes to speak to the whole Jewish people on the last day of his life. He tells them gently that Hashem has said he will not cross the Jordan River into the Land of Israel. Instead, Yehoshua will lead them, and Moshe reminds everyone that Hashem Himself will go before them, fighting for them just as He did in Egypt and in the desert.

Moshe calls Yehoshua in front of all of Israel and tells him, "Chazak V'ematz," be strong and brave, because he will bring the people into the land Hashem promised. Moshe promises Yehoshua that Hashem will not fail him or leave him, so he should not be afraid.

Moshe writes down the entire Torah with his own hand and gives the finished Sefer Torah to the Kohanim, the sons of Levi, who carry the Aron Kodesh. He commands them to place it right beside the Ark of the Covenant, so it will always be there as a guide and a witness for the Jewish people.

The parsha also teaches the special mitzvah of Hakhel: once every seven years, in the year right after Shemitah, during the holiday of Sukkot, all of Israel, men, women, and children, gather together, and the king reads chosen parts of the Torah aloud so everyone can hear and learn to fear and love Hashem.

Finally, Hashem tells Moshe and Yehoshua to write and teach the people a special song, so that it will always be remembered, generation after generation, as a witness that reminds the Jewish people of Hashem's love and closeness, even in difficult times.