📜 Daily Chumash & Rashi – Parshas Vieschanan: Sheiyni – The Torah is our wisdom

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Sheiyni

• The Torah is our wisdom: The Torah is the wisdom of the Jewish people in the eyes of the nations. The nations will declare how wise the Jewish people are. There is no nation that is closer to Hashem than the Jewish people.
• Remembering Matan Torah: We must never forget our witnessing of the giving of the Torah and are to teach it to our children. We stood under the mountain and a fire came out from the mountain until the heavens and Hashem’s voice came out from the fire. We were commanded 10 commands and they were written on two tablets of stone. Hashem commanded Moshe the remaining commands that he must tell the Jewish people.
• One must guard his soul very much. Venishmartem Meod Lenafshoseichem.
• Idolatry: Moshe warns Bnei Yisrael against performing idolatry. “One is not to make a replica of a human, male or female, or of an animal or bird or fish. Lest your eyes look at the heavens and you see the sun, moon and stars and worship them.
• Hashem has removed you from the iron crucible of Egypt and chosen you as a nation.”
• Moshe will not enter Eretz Yisrael: Hashem became angry with Moshe due to Bnei Yirael and told him that he will not enter Eretz Yisrael, although Bnei Yisrael will enter.
• Prophecy that the Jewish people will go astray and their punishments: “When you have many descendants and live long in the land, you will go astray and in corrupt ways, performing evil in the eyes of Hashem. I forewarn you today that you will perish from the land. Hashem will disperse you amongst all the lands and you will serve their gods. You will search for Hashem your G-d there and you will find him. Hashem is merciful, and He will not destroy you or forget the covenant with your forefathers.”
• Moshe recounts the miracles Hashem has done and that there is nothing but Him: “Inquire and see, has there ever been a time that a nation has heard the voice of Hashem and taken one nation out from another with miracles and wonders. You have been shown today that Hashem is G-d and there is nothing aside for Him. Internalize this message into your heart.”

📘 Rashi Q&A — Devarim 4:5–40

4:5–8 — The Wisdom of Torah

4:5

Q1. What did Moshe teach Israel?

1. The statutes and laws that Hashem commanded him to teach.

Q2. Where were they to observe these laws?

1. In the Land they were about to inherit.

 

4:6

Q3. What does “ושמרתם” mean?

1. Study and guard the Torah.

Q4. What does “ועשיתם” mean?

1. Perform the mitzvot.

Q5. Why will the nations consider Israel wise?

1. Because of their observance and understanding of the Torah.

 

4:7

Q6. What makes Israel unique among the nations?

1. Hashem is close whenever they call upon Him.

 

4:8

Q7. What is special about the Torah’s laws?

1. They are righteous, proper, and just.

 

4:9–14 — Remember Sinai

4:9

Q8. What must Israel be careful not to forget?

1. What they personally experienced at Sinai.

Q9. What happens if they forget?

1. They lose the wisdom and understanding that the Torah brings.

Q10. Who must they teach?

1. Their children and grandchildren.

 

 

 

4:10

Q11. What event is being recalled?

1. The giving of the Torah at Horeb (Sinai).

Q12. Why did Hashem gather the people?

1. So they would learn fear of Heaven and teach it to future generations.

Q13. What is the difference between “ילמדון” and “ילמדון” according to Rashi?

1. One means learning for oneself; the other means teaching others.

 

4:11–12

Q14. What did Israel see at Sinai?

1. Fire, darkness, cloud, and thick cloud.

Q15. What did they hear?

1. Hashem’s voice.

Q16. What did they not see?

1. Any physical form or image.

 

4:13–14

Q17. What covenant did Hashem proclaim?

1. The Ten Commandments.

Q18. On what were they written?

1. Two stone tablets.

Q19. What additional role did Moshe receive?

1. To teach the Oral Torah.

 

4:15–24 — The Danger of Idolatry

4:15

Q20. Why must Israel guard itself carefully?

1. Because they saw no image at Sinai.

 

4:16–18

Q21. What are they forbidden to make?

1. Any graven image or representation.

Q22. What kinds of forms are prohibited?

1. Human beings, animals, birds, creeping creatures, and fish.

Q23. What does “סמל” mean?

1. A form or image.

 

4:19

Q24. Why must they not worship the heavenly bodies?

1. They were created only to serve Hashem’s purposes.

Q25. What does “lest you lift your eyes” imply?

1. Deliberately focusing on them and being drawn after them.

Q26. What is Rashi’s second explanation of “which Hashem allotted”?

1. Hashem allowed the nations to follow these mistaken beliefs rather than forcibly preventing them.

 

4:20

Q27. What is the “iron furnace”?

1. Egypt.

Q28. What is a furnace (כור)?

1. The vessel used for refining precious metals.

Q29. Why did Hashem take Israel out of Egypt?

1. To make them His special inheritance.

 

4:21–24

Q30. Why does Moshe again mention his inability to enter the Land?

1. It happened because of Israel’s actions.

Q31. What does “על דבריכם” mean?

1. Because of you and your affairs.

Q32. What does Moshe mean by “I will die in this land”?

1. Even his bones would not cross the Jordan.

Q33. What warning does he repeat?

1. Never make an image or idol.

Q34. Why is idolatry especially serious?

1. Because Hashem is a consuming fire and a zealous God.

Q35. What does “jealous” mean here?

1. He zealously punishes idol worship.

 

4:25–31 — Exile and Return

4:25

Q36. What future danger does Moshe predict?

1. Corruption and idolatry after long residence in the Land.

Q37. What does “ונושנתם” hint to?

1. Exile after 852 years.

Q38. When did exile actually come?

1. Two years earlier, after 850 years.

Q39. Why was it brought earlier?

1. To prevent complete destruction.

 

4:26–28

Q40. Whom does Moshe call as witnesses?

1. Heaven and earth.

Q41. What punishment does he warn of?

1. Exile and dispersion among the nations.

Q42. What does “you will serve gods there” mean?

1. Serving idol worshippers is like serving their idols.

 

4:29–31

Q43. What will happen in exile?

1. Israel will seek Hashem.

Q44. When will they find Him?

1. When they seek Him with all their heart and soul.

Q45. What will happen at the end of days?

1. They will return to Hashem and obey Him.

Q46. Why will Hashem not abandon them?

1. Because He is merciful and remembers His covenant with the Patriarchs.

Q47. What does “לא ירפך” mean?

1. He will not let go of His hold on you.

 

4:32–40 — No Event Like Sinai

4:32–34

Q48. What challenge does Moshe issue?

1. Search all history and see if anything like Sinai ever happened.

Q49. What unparalleled event occurred?

1. A nation heard Hashem speak from fire and survived.

Q50. What other unique event occurred?

1. Hashem took one nation out from the midst of another with miracles and wonders.

Q51. What are “מסות”?

1. Tests demonstrating Hashem’s power.

Q52. What are “אותות”?

1. Signs proving Moshe’s mission.

Q53. What are “מופתים”?

1. Miraculous wonders such as the plagues.

Q54. What does “with war” refer to?

1. The splitting of the Sea and the defeat of Egypt.

 

4:35–39

Q55. What was the purpose of all these miracles?

1. To know that Hashem alone is God.

Q56. What does “הראת” mean?

1. You were shown.

Q57. What vision did Israel receive at Sinai?

1. The heavens and earth were opened so they could perceive that Hashem alone exists.

Q58. Why did Hashem perform all these acts?

1. Because He loved the Patriarchs and chose their descendants.

Q59. What did that love lead Him to do?

1. Redeem Israel and bring them to the Land.

Q60. What truth must Israel place in its heart?

1. Hashem alone is God in heaven above and earth below; there is none else.

 

4:40

Q61. What final instruction does Moshe give?

1. Observe Hashem’s statutes and commandments.

Q62. What reward is promised?

1. Long life, success, and permanence in the Land.