parshat Vayelech

This week's Torah portion reveals that the entirety of Jewish history, with all its uplifting joys and terrible hardships, was determined in advance.

The holiest day, Yom Kippur, and its preceding day contain apparently polar opposite elements – the firm requirement to fast on Yom Kippur and the requirement to eat on Erev Yom Kippur. When one eats then, it is equivalent to one who fasted both days. What is the nature of this dichotomy?

What do you say to your successor? What advice do you give him or her? Vayelech is the place to look for the answer, because it is here that Moses finally handed the reins over to Joshua.

Our teacher Moshe is described in the Parsha as being near the end of his life in this world. Yet, the Torah also describes that he was able to climb mountains, and gather the Jewish people at his feet.

A Shiur by Rabbi Jonathan Sacks for the weekly Torah reading of "Nitzavim- Vayelech".