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Parashat Vezot Haberakhah - פָּרָשַׁת וְזֹאת הַבְּרָכָה
V’Zot HaBerachah is the final portion in the annual cycle of Torah reading. In it, Moses blesses each of the tribes, excluding the tribe of Simeon. He then ascends Mount Nebo, sees the Land of Israel, and dies at the age of 120. The Israelites mourn, and the portion ends highlighting Moses’ unparalleled greatness.
Torah Portion: Deuteronomy 33:1-34:12
Parashat Vezot Haberakhah is the -1th weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading. Next read on October 15th, 2025 / 23 Tishrei 5786
- Annual Reading
Read Annually
1:
33:1 - 33:7· 7 p’sukim
2:
33:8 - 33:12· 5 p’sukim
3:
33:13 - 33:17· 5 p’sukim
4:
33:18 - 33:21· 4 p’sukim
5:
33:22 - 33:26· 5 p’sukim
6:
33:27 - 33:29· 3 p’sukim
7:
34:1 - 34:12· 12 p’sukim
Haftarah for Sephardim:
Joshua 1:1 - 1:9· 9 p’sukim
Haftarah for Ashkenazim:
Joshua 1:1 - 1:18· 18 p’sukim
About Parashat Parashat Vezot Haberakhah
As the 54th and final portion of the annual cycle, Vezot Haberakhah is fundamentally about leadership transition, legacy, and renewal. Where the preceding portion (Ha'azinu) was largely admonishing, Moses's parting words here are reassuring, promising the people God's continued protection and care as they look ahead to security and prosperity in the Promised Land. The portion also dramatizes the end of an era: Moses dies in Moab without entering the land, and authority passes to Joshua. Because it is chanted on Simchat Torah and immediately followed by the opening of Genesis, the reading embodies the never-ending, cyclical nature of Torah study.
The Haftarah
In most Ashkenazi communities the haftarah is Joshua 1:1-18, while many Sephardi communities read the shorter Joshua 1:1-9; congregations should follow their own custom. The connection is unusually direct: the haftarah opens "After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord," picking up exactly where the Torah portion ends. Its theme is the passing of leadership, as God commissions Joshua to lead Israel across the Jordan. The two readings echo one another in pointed contrast — Moses "shall not cross over" (Deut. 34:4), while Joshua is told to "cross over" the Jordan (Josh. 1:2) — depicting how the covenant and spiritual authority pass from one generation to the next.
Notable passages and verses
Vezot Haberakhah holds a unique liturgical status: it is the only weekly portion never read on an ordinary Shabbat. Instead it is always chanted on the festival of Simchat Torah, when the annual Torah cycle is completed and immediately restarted from Genesis 1:1. Its most famous verse is Deuteronomy 33:4 — "Torah tzivah lanu Moshe, morasha kehillat Yaakov" ("Moses commanded us the Torah, an inheritance for the congregation of Jacob") — traditionally one of the first verses taught to Jewish children and recited in the daily morning prayers. The portion also closes the Torah with its poignant final verses describing Moses as the greatest prophet, "whom the Lord knew face to face" (Deut. 34:10). According to traditional commentary, Moses died "by the kiss" of God, and no one knows the location of his burial.
Frequently asked questions
What is Parashat Vezot Haberakhah about?
Vezot Haberakhah (Deuteronomy 33:1-34:12) is the final Torah portion of the annual cycle. Moses delivers a tribe-by-tribe poetic farewell blessing to Israel, then ascends Mount Nebo, is shown the Land of Israel, and dies in Moab at age 120 without entering it. The people mourn for thirty days, leadership passes to Joshua, and the portion closes by affirming Moses as the greatest of prophets. With TropeTrainer you can hear and practice this reading with its trope.
What is the haftarah for Vezot Haberakhah?
In most Ashkenazi communities the haftarah is Joshua 1:1-18, while many Sephardi communities read the shorter Joshua 1:1-9 (follow your community's custom). It begins "After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord" and recounts God commissioning Joshua to lead Israel across the Jordan, continuing the theme of leadership transition. TropeTrainer lets you hear and practice the haftarah with its cantillation.
What are the themes of Vezot Haberakhah?
The central themes are leadership transition, legacy, and renewal: Moses blesses the tribes, hands authority to Joshua, and dies before entering the land. Because the portion is read on Simchat Torah and immediately followed by the start of Genesis, it also embodies the unending cycle of Torah study. You can hear and practice the full reading with trope on TropeTrainer.
When is Vezot Haberakhah read?
Vezot Haberakhah is the only weekly portion never read on a regular Shabbat. It is always chanted on the festival of Simchat Torah (in September or October), when the annual cycle is completed and immediately restarted from Genesis. TropeTrainer lets you hear and practice this reading with its trope so you're ready for the festival.
Where to go next
See the complete list of weekly parashot with links to every reading and detail page.
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