Beit Yisrael International: Parashat Vayeilech-He Went- 5786-27 September 2025 / 5 Tishrei 5786

Mr. Murthy Gaddi

Parashat Vayeilech-He Went- 5786-27 September 2025 / 5 Tishrei 5786

“CHOOSE LIFE: THE ETERNAL CALL OF FREE WILL, COVENANT, AND CLOSENESS TO HASHEM.”

The verses from (Deuteronomy 30:17–19, near the close of Nitzavim–Vayeilech) are among the most central passages in the Torah, and the Jewish sages unfolded many layers of meaning in them. Here is an exploration through Midrash, Talmud, Ramban, Chassidut, and Kabbalah:

“Choose Life” — Insights from the Sages

1. Free Will and Responsibility

Rambam (Hilchot Teshuvah 5:1–3) teaches that these verses are the foundation of human freedom: “Permission is given to every person to incline himself toward good or evil… Do not think that God decrees that a person must be righteous or wicked.” The choice of life and death is given into our own hands; without free will, Torah and mitzvot would have no meaning.
Midrash Rabbah (Devarim 8:5) comments: when Hashem says, “Choose life,” it is like a father setting his child at a crossroads, pointing to the right path, and pleading: “Take this way, my son!” This shows that God is not neutral — He desires our life, blessing, and closeness to Him.

2. Heaven and Earth as Witnesses

Rashi (Deut. 30:19) explains: Heaven and earth endure forever, unlike Moshe who will soon depart. They stand as eternal witnesses to the covenant.
Sforno adds that heaven and earth themselves demonstrate the consequences: rain and fertility for obedience, drought and barrenness for disobedience. The natural world becomes a moral mirror.

3. Life and Death Beyond the Physical

Onkelos (Targum) translates “choose life” as “choose eternal life.” The sages see this not just as choosing physical existence but eternal closeness to God.
Ramban – “Life” means attachment to Hashem in this world, which overflows into the World to Come. Choosing mitzvot brings divine vitality into the soul.
Talmud (Avodah Zarah 5b) – Torah study itself is called “life”, as it says: “It is a tree of life to those who hold fast to it” ( Prov. 3:18 ).

4. The Inner Struggle

Zohar (III:288a) – The “other gods” are not only idols but inner distractions: ego, lust, and pride that pull the heart away from God. Choosing life means aligning the heart and soul with the Divine root of existence.
Chassidut (Tanya, ch. 25) – Every moment of mitzvah is a moment of choosing life, connecting the finite with the infinite. Conversely, sin is a momentary severing from the Source of life.

5. Generational Covenant

The verse emphasizes “you and your offspring shall live.”
Midrash Tanchuma (Nitzavim 3) – Every Jew’s decision affects not only themselves but all future generations, because the covenant is collective.
Rav Kook – Choosing life is choosing to attach oneself to the eternal destiny of Israel, ensuring that one’s children inherit faith, holiness, and love of God.

Essence

“Choose life” is not merely a command but an invitation. It affirms free will, moral responsibility, and the eternal bond between Israel and Hashem. The sages teach that true life means cleaving to the Source of life through Torah, mitzvot, and teshuvah. Heaven and earth stand witness that every choice reverberates across generations and even into eternity.

MOSHE’S FINAL JOURNEY — PASSING LEADERSHIP, RENEWING TORAH, AND SEALING THE COVENANT IN SONG.”

1. Moshe Hands Over Leadership to Yehoshua

Rashi (Deut. 31:7) explains that Moshe publicly encouraged Yehoshua so that all Israel would accept him as leader. Leadership is not just function, but a sacred transfer of trust.
Midrash Tanchuma (Vayeilech 6) notes that Moshe’s words “Chazak ve’ematz — Be strong and courageous” were not only for Yehoshua but for every Jew in their service of Hashem. Each generation must summon courage in its divine mission.
Zohar (III:261b) describes the transfer of leadership as a flame lighting another flame : Moshe’s spiritual light entered Yehoshua, ensuring continuity of divine guidance.

2. Hakhel – The Public Reading of Torah Every Seven Years

Rambam (Hilchot Chagigah 3:6) compares Hakhel to reliving Mount Sinai : when Torah is read publicly, it is as if the covenant is renewed anew.
Midrash Tanchuma (Vayeilech 3) emphasizes that even infants must attend Hakhel. They may not understand, but their souls absorb the holiness of the gathering.
Chassidut sees Hakhel as the collective elevation of Israel — when Jews unite in one place to hear Torah, they manifest the Shechinah. The unity itself is the deepest teaching.

3. The Writing of the Torah by Moshe

Sifri teaches that Moshe gave a copy of the Torah to each tribe, symbolizing that Torah belongs equally to every Jew.
Ramban explains that Torah is not a history book but an eternal covenant. By being written and placed by the Ark, it stands as a living witness across generations.
Zohar (III:285a) calls the Torah the “blueprint of creation” — Moshe’s act of writing it down revealed Torah’s eternity and accessibility.

4. The Poem of Testimony (Shirat Ha’azinu)

Rashi (Deut. 31:19) explains that the Song of Ha’azinu was given so that when hardships come, Israel would remember that Hashem had foretold it, leading them back in teshuvah.
Midrash Rabbah (Devarim 9:9) teaches that the song functions as both rebuke and comfort, showing that even in exile, Israel remains bound to Hashem.
Chassidut (Me’or Einayim) adds that song transforms rebuke into sweetness — even when God warns of exile, the melody carries love and hope of return.

Essence from the Sages

Vayeilech reveals the transition from Moshe to Yehoshua, ensuring continuity of leadership ; it introduces Hakhel, the renewal of Sinai every seven years; it seals the covenant with the writing of Torah as a living witness ; and it offers the Song of Ha’azinu as both warning and comfort. The sages highlight that Israel’s strength lies in unity, Torah, and the eternal bond with Hashem, even in times of concealment.

Vayeilech-He Went - Be Strong and Courageous

Get This Week’s Full Torah Lesson!

Join Beit Yisrael International to access this week’s comprehensive Torah lesson, crafted to illuminate the timeless teachings of the weekly Parshat Vayeilech Dive into a rich experience with in-depth insights, step-by-step explanations, and beautifully organized content that brings the Torah to life like never before.

Sign up today on the Beit Yisrael International website to enjoy exclusive content, connect with a vibrant community, and deepen your spiritual journey.

What’s Included:

A beautifully designed article featuring color-coded sections and animated insights.
A guided journey through the profound teachings of the Torah, presented with clarity and inspiration.
Exclusive access to enriching materials for free, specially offered to our dear friends and readers at Mnglobal.org.

Don’t miss this opportunity to immerse yourself in the wisdom of the Torah, gain fresh perspectives on the Parsha, and connect with the deeper meanings of these sacred teachings.

Check out Our Website As well as Beit Yisrael International's YouTube.

Beit Yisrael International is dedicated to fulfilling a heavenly mission—bringing the light of Torah and revealing the true light of Mashiach through the Weekly Parsha in 70 languages.

This mission aligns with the teachings of the Soul of the Tzaddik, as the light of the tzaddik reflects the principles of Jewish Chassidut and Kabbalah.

These teachings on Torah, Geula (redemption), Teshuvah (repentance), Mitzvot (commandments), and Malchut (Kingship) guide souls toward spiritual transformation.

Beit Yisrael founding principles:

1. Worshiping the Creator of the Universe.

2. Adhering to the Torah.

3. Avoiding Avodah Zarah (idolatry)

4. Following Jewish Halacha.

5. Walking the path of the Tzaddikim.

6. Prepare for the coming of Mashiach Ben David and the Geula

Search This Blog