Torah Classes

Chp. 1 verses 4 - 26: G-d calls the light day and the darkness nigth, and it was evening and morning one day. On the second day He creates the firmament and He separates between the upper waters and the lower waters. On the third day He gathers the waters exposing the dry land and vegetation. On the fourth day He creates the luminaries. On the fifth day He creates sea life and birds. On the six day He creates reptiles, animals, and finally man.

Chp. 1 verses 1 - 4: Introduction, G-d creates the heavens and the earth. The earth is empty and void, and darkness hovers over the face of the water. He creates light, and sees that it is good. He separates between the light and the darkness.

Chp. 33 verse 17 - Chp. 34 verse 12: Continues with Yosef, Zevulun, Yissachar, Gad, Dan, Naphtali, and Asher. Chp. 34, After he concluded his blessings he ascended Mount Nevo and Hashem showed him all the land that the tribes would inherit. Moshe died in the plains of Moav by the mouth of G-d. There he was buried and no one knows his burial site. The nation mourned for him for thirty days. The they turned to their new leader Yehoshua who would guide them in their conquest of the Land of Canaan under Hashem's supervision. The Torah concludes with the words that " There has not risen a prophet like Moshe, whom the L-rd knew face to face...."

Chp. 33 verse 1 - 17: Introduction, before his death Moshe gives his blessings to the nation and to each tribe individually, just like Yaakov before his death. Begins with Ruevain, then Yehudah, Levi, Binyamin, and Yosef.

Chp. 32 verses 17 - 52: He continues with his message. That in later generations they may turn to other objects to worship. Consequently, Hashem will repay their lack of appreciation with the denial of His favor. His punishments will be disease and the cruelty of the enemy. His only concern will be that the enemy should not gloat which will prevent the complete annihilation of the nation. Israel should then realize that their survival is totally dependent upon Hashem and their obedience. After completing this address Moshe was told to ascend Mount Nevo so that he would be able to see the Promised Land before he died.

Chp. 32 verses 1 - 17: Introduction, Moshe begins his poetic message with a call to heaven and earth to witness his words. He praises Hashem and His justice. He tells them how Hashem had chosen the older generation from among the nations. He cared for them in the wilderness and carried and guarded them as an eagle watches over it's young.

Chp. 31 verses 22 -30: Finishes off the prophecy of the future sins. So Moshe wrote the song of Ha'azinu on that day and taught it to the people. He commanded Yehoshua to be strong and that Hashem would be with him. He finished writing the words of the Torah. He then commanded the Levites to place the Torah next to the Ark so that it could be a witness against them, because he knew that they would rebel against Hashem. Then Moshe was told to assemble the people to teach them the passages of Ha'azinu, which would again remind them of the consequences of turning against Hashem.

Chp. 31 verses 1 - 21: Introduction, Moshe tells the people that he would not be taking them into the the land but that it would be Yehoshua. He told them not to fear since Hashem would be with them as with Og and Sichon. He spoke to Yehoshua in front of all the nation and told him to be strong and courageous. He then wrote a sefer Torah and gave it to the Kohanim and the elders. He commanded that the king read from the book of Devarim at the end of every seventh year. Everyone was to attend men, women, and children. Hashem then told Moshe that he was about to die and to bring Yehoshua to the Tent. Hashem told them the sins that the nation would commit in the future.

Chp. 30 verses 1 - 20: Continuing, that Hashem would gather them from dispersion and return them to the Promised Land. Then the curse would be transferred to their enemies. They would experience blessings as long as they accepted all of Hashem's commandments. They should therefore choose life over death and good over evil and they would thrive and if not they would perish.

Chp. 29 verse 9 - Chp. 30 verse 1: Introduction, on the day that Moshe was to die, he gathered all the nation together. He confirmed the Covenant not only for them but for all future generations. He again warned them of the consequences they would experience if they did not follow the ways of Hashem. Chp. 30, Moshe begins to tell them what will happen after they have experienced Hahem's blessings and curses.