Gaea's

Parshat Vaetchanan begins with Moshe pleading to be able to enter Israel. The Gemara (tractate) brings a question posed by Rav Simlai, who wonders why Moshe needed to go into Israel so much that he had to beg for it. He answers that there are many Mitzvot (commandments) that can only be performed in Israel, and Moshe needed to perform them. The Chassam Sofer, however, questions the wording of Rav Simlai. Who said Moshe needed to go into Israel? Couldn’t it be that he simply WANTED to?

The Chassam Sofer answers that Moshe saw an opportunity to do more Mitzvot, and although they weren’t in front of him (he had to go into Israel to perform them), he still felt the need to perform them, and did what he could to be able to complete them. In contrast, when was the last time we begged anyone to be able to do a Mitzvah? In fact, do we perform all the Mitzvot that we CAN? How many times have we even deliberately walked away from a chance to help someone? We should strive to be like Moshe, and work to appreciate, take advantage of, and especially LEARN about all the opportunities we are given, to do something good both for G-d , for each other, and ultimately for ourselves!

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1. Dvar for Vayakhel/Pekudei (Exodus 35:1-40:38)
2. Dvar for Ki Tavo (Deuteronomy 26:1-29:8)
3. Dvar for Re’eh (Deuteronomy 11:26-16:17)
4. Dvar for Devarim (Deuteronomy 1:1-3:22)
5. Dvar for Netzavim-Vayelech (Deuteronomy 29:9-31:30)
6. Dvar for Shoftim (Deuteronomy 16:18-21:9)
7. Dvar for Beshalach (Exodus 13:17-17:16)
8. Dvar for Haazinu (Deuteronomy 32:1-32:52)
9. Dvar for Korach (Numbers 16:1-18:32)
10. Dvar for Ekev (Deuteronomy 7:12 – 11:25)
11. Dvar for Matot-Masei (Numbers 30:2-36:13)
12. Dvar for Pinchas (Numbers 25:10-30:1)
13. Dvar for Yitro (Exodus 18:1-20:23)
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15. Dvar for Ki Tetzei (Deuteronomy 21:10-25:19)
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20. Dvar for Tzav (Leviticus 6:1-8:36)