Parashat V'zot Habracha - Sixth Aliyah
Read the biblical text and try to understand it on your own, before reading the commentary.
From the tribes to the whole people: refuge, security and plenty
The aliyah continues the close of the blessings of Moses and moves from the blessings of the tribes to an overall picture of all Israel. God is described as a source of refuge, stability and protection, and as one whose power is not limited by time. Alongside the protection there also appears the driving away of the enemies before Israel.
Next comes a description of Israel dwelling in security in a land of grain and wine, while the dew from the heavens also joins the picture of blessing. This is not only a promise of victory over enemies, but also of the result that is meant to follow it: a life of security, stability and plenty.
The last verse of the aliyah is a peak of praise for Israel. Moses describes Israel as a people like no other, a people saved by God. The protection and the strength are not presented as an independent might of Israel alone, but as help whose source is in God.
So the blessing of Moses to Israel ends not with a particular detail or with one tribe, but with the whole people. After each tribe has received its unique place, Moses joins them all together again into one picture of a people that merits help, protection, security and plenty.
Insights from the aliyah
After all the tribes we return to the whole people
In this chapter we saw separate blessings for the tribes again and again, but here the view widens. On the level of the idea, the uniqueness of different parts does not stand on its own, but takes on its full meaning when they join into one whole.
A true refuge gives both a foundation and protection
The description combines a place of refuge with arms that support from beneath. On the level of the idea, deep security is not only protection from danger, but also the sense that there is a foundation that holds a person when he grows weak.
Victory is not the end of the story
Right after the driving away of the enemies there appear security, grain, wine and dew. This teaches that, on the level of the idea, the purpose of might is not only to defeat an enemy, but to make possible afterwards a life of building, quiet and prosperity.
Plenty and security appear together
The aliyah does not separate physical security from livelihood and plenty. On the level of the idea, a whole life needs both protection and the ability to develop and grow.
The strength of Israel is not described as absolute independence
At the end of the blessing Israel is described as those who are saved by God. This returns all the strength and plenty to one source, and keeps success from turning into a feeling of self-superiority.
Happy are you, Israel flows from the bond and not only from the achievement
The praise of Israel is not based only on a good land or on victory. It is tied to the fact that they are a people saved by God. On the level of the idea, the greatest value is not only what a person has achieved, but with whom he is bound and on what his life rests.
Moses ends the blessings with a picture of security
After a long journey of wars, wanderings, crises and rebukes, the end of the blessings is a picture of a people dwelling in security. There is a sense of completion in this: the long road is directed, in the end, toward stability, plenty and belonging.
More Questions on the Parsha
More questions on this parsha are on the way. In the meantime, explore our daily Torah learning.
Daily Torah learning