Parashah Roundup: Vezos Ha-Berakhah/Sinchas Torah 5769

by Steve Brizel

Hoshanah Rabbah

Rav Soloveitchik zt"l discusses Hoshanah Rabbah: link

R. Ephraim Buchwald investigates the judgment that is rendered on Hoshanah Rabbah: link

R. Yehoshua Grunstein explores the Minhagim associated with Hoshana Rabbah: link (audio)

Click here to read moreShemini Atzeres

R. Herschel Schachter emphasizes that the theme of Shemini Atzeres and Simchas Torah is the unique relationship of the Jewish People with God which is maintained by Torah study and which complements and enhances the simcha of both Shemini Atzeres and Simchas Torah: link

R. Michael Rosensweig explains why the Simcha of Shemini Atzeres is both part of Sukkos and an independent Chag: link

Simchas Torah

R. Asher Weiss discusses the Mitzvah of Talmud Torah and Ameilus BaTorah: link

R. Shlomo Riskin tellls us why noone knows the location of the burial of Moshe Rabbeinu: link

R. Avraham Gordimer reminds us that the message of Simchas Torah is that once we have gone through the Yamim Noraim and Sukkos, we maintain our relationship with God via Torah study: link (audio)

R. Assaf Bednarsh explores the evolution and development of Krias HaTorah and Simchas Torah: link (audio)

R. Larry Rothwachs discusses standing on Simchas Torah for Hakafos: link 1 (audio), link 2 (PDF)

Vezos HaBracha

R. Yitzchak Etshalom compares the blessings of Moses and Jacob in Parshas Vayechi: link

The Shem MiShmuel, as prepared by R. Eliezer Kwass, asks why we conclude the yearly cycle of Krias HaTorah on Simchas Torah: link

R. Yissocher Frand explains why the Torah is a morasha, and not a yerushah: link

R. Yitzchok Adlerstein, based upon the Nesivos Shalom's insights into Rashi, explores the unique relationship between God and Moses: link

R. Jonathan Sacks, based upon a recently published manuscript of Pitron Torah, reminds us that the Torah is the heritage of the Jewish People, regardless of the fact that other faith communities also took from the words written in the Torah: link (PDF)

R. Avraham Gordimer explains why this Parsha constitutes the sealing of the Torah: link (audio)

R. David Horwitz, based upon the Kli Yakar, explains that Moshe's blessing for the Leviites was that his life, serve as an atonement for Yaakov Avinu's curse of Levi for failing to control his anger: link (audio)