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for Parshat V'ZOT HA'BRACHA
V'ZOT HA'BRACHA: Questions for Preparation and Self Study
The Order of Moshe's Blessings in v'ZOT HA'BRACHA

for HAKHEL
The Mitzvah of Hakhel in Parshat Va'yelech

for SUCCOT
Succot - Questions for Preparation and Self Study

Shiur #1: From Yom Kippur to Succot
Shiur #2: Succot - An Agricultural or Historical Holiday?
Shiur #3: The Dual Nature of the Chagim in Emor
Shiur #4: Shmini Atzeret: What's Special About the number 8?
Shiur #5 - The 'Double' Musaf of Succot

The Order of Moshe's Blessings

V'zot HaBracha is a classic example of a Parsha that almost everyone knows by heart, but almost no one understands. The reason is very simple - its words are very difficult to translate, and its flow is very hard to follow. In this week's shiur, we try to 'break the ice' by undertaking a very basic analysis of its structure and theme. As we shall see, it's really not so hard after all.

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From Yom Kippur to Sukkot

We are all familiar with custom to begin work on our SUCCAH immediately after Yom Kippur. Although this custom is often understood as simply a great way to 'get off to a good start', ["m'chayil el chayil"], it may also allude to something more significant.

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An Agricultural or Historic Holiday?

In contrast to Pesach which commemorates the Exodus - an event that took place on a specific day, Succot commemorates our dwelling in 'booths' for forty years in the desert - an entire time-period of our nation's history. Now, considering that Bnei Yisrael lived in "succot" for some forty years in the desert, there appears to be no 'historical' reason to prefer celebrating this holiday in Tishrei over any other month. Nonetheless, the Torah insists that we celebrate Succot in the fall, at the culmination of the harvest season. Why does the Torah associate the commemoration of this important stage of our national history with a harvest festival? In our shiur, we attempt to explain why.

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The Dual Nature of the Chagim in Emor

What is a "moed?" To most of us, the Hebrew word "moed" implies a holiday [i.e. a "yom-tov"]; a more precise English translation would be a 'fixed' [or 'appointed'] time. So why doesn't Parshat Emor use the Hebrew word "chag" [holiday] or "zman" [a set time] in its description of the holidays? Why is specifically the word Moed emphasized in Vayikra chapter 23? Furthermore, is it just by chance that the same Hebrew word "moed" is used in the phrase Ohel Moed that describes the Mishkan? In this week's shiur, we attempt to explain the thematic importance of Sefer Vayikra's description of the Moadim.

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Shmini Atzeret: What's Special About 8?

Is 'eight' a magic number in Chumash? Or, is it only coincidental that specifically the 'eighth day' is chosen when God commands Avraham Avinu concerning Brit Milah; the 'eighth day' is chosen for the dedication of the Mishkan; the 'eighth day' is chosen for the day on which the cleansed Metzora, Zav, and Zavah bring their special korbanot; and in Parshat Emor, the final holiday is "Shmini Atzeret" - the 'eighth day' of Succot! In the following shiur, we return to Sefer Breishit in search of the biblical significance of the number 'eight.'

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The 'Double' Musaf of Succot

In Parshat Pinchas (Bamidbar chps. 28-29) we find a complete list of all the korbanot MUSAF which we offered in addition to the daily TAMID offering in the Bet Ha'Mikdash. In this shiur, we will examine the korbanot offered on the different holidays to help shed light on the nature of the holiday of Succot.

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Mitzvat Hakhel and Har Sinai

Were we all at Ma'amad Har Sinai? According to "pshat," only the generation that left Egypt had the privilege to be there. Yet according to the Midrash, the "nshama" [soul] of every jew, of every generation, witnessed that momentous event. In this week's shiur, as we study Parshat Vayelech, we will show how the mitzvah of Hakhel helps 'bridge this gap' between "pshat" and "drash."

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