Below is a collection of Parashat Vezot haBerakha resources created by The Lookstein Center staff or contributed to the site by Jewish educators.

This is a growing collection. Check back soon or write to us at content@lookstein.org if you didn’t find what you’re looking for. 

DISCUSSION AND REFLECTION QUESTIONS

Question #1: Moses ends the book of his speech by blessing the tribes. He doesn’t only bless the people as a  group but blesses each tribe according to their own qualities. What do you think would be a good blessing to give your friend? Your parent? What is a blessing that you would like to receive? 

Look inside the text (Devarim 33:1),

 וְזֹאת הַבְּרָכָה אֲשֶׁר בֵּרַךְ משֶׁה אִישׁ הָאֱלֹהִים אֶת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל לִפְנֵי מוֹתוֹ – This is the blessing with which Moses, the man of God, gave to the Israelites as a farewell before he died.

Question #2: This is the last parasha in the entire Torah and we read about the death of Moses and how he was unique. How many different ways can you describe Moses as being the most special of Jewish leaders and prophets? What do you think the text means that Moses spoke to God “face to face” (after all God does not have a face!)?

Look inside the text (Devarim 34:10),

 וְלֹא קָם נָבִיא עוֹד בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל כְּמשֶׁה אֲשֶׁר יְדָעוֹ יְהֹוָה פָּנִים אֶל פָּנִים – Never again did there arise in Israel a prophet like Moses—whom God singled out, face to face

Question #3: Moses’s burial place has left a mystery, and some have explained that God was concerned lest his tomb is turned into a place of veneration and worship, as happened to many other righteous people. What is the value of connecting to great ancestors? What is the danger in connecting to great ancestors?