Parashat Vayeilech
Aliya-by-Aliya Sedra Summary
Numbers in [square brackets] are the Mitzva-Count from Sefer HaChinuch.

SEDRA STATS
51st of the 54 sedras; 8th of 11 in D'varim
Written on 72 lines in a Sefer Torah (ranks: 53)
3 Parshiyot, 2 open, 1 closed
30 P'sukim; ranks 54 (11th in D'varim)
553 words; ranks 53 (10th in D'varim)
2123 letters; ranks 53 (10th in D'varim)
Fewest p'sukim of any sedra, but the longest p'sukim (in words & letters) of any sedra. Not enough to make that much of a difference in ranking

Nitzavim & Vayeilech are combined or separated depending upon one factor: Is there a Shabbat between Yom Kippur and Sukkot, or not. If no, then they are combined and are read on the Shabbat before Rosh HaShana and Haazinu is Shabbat Shuva. If there is a Shabbat between YK and Chag - as there is this year - then that Shabbat is Haazinu, Shuva is Vayeilech, and Nitzavim is the pre-Rosh HaShana Shabbat.

If Rosh HaShana is Thursday (31.9%) or Shabbat (28.6%), then there is no Shabbat between YK & Sukkot (60.5%). If Rosh HaShana is Monday (28.0%) or Tuesday (11.5% as it is this year), then there is a Shabbat between (39.5%). 

Fun fact: On the last Shabbat (Mincha) and Monday of 5761, we read the first 13 p'sukim of Vayeilech. But the remaining 17 p'sukim were not read at all during 5761 - Only these 17 of 5846 p'sukim are sometimes not read at all in a whole year. And, in 5762, Vayeilech is Parshat HaShavua TWICE! The only sedra that ever holds that distinction.

MITZVOT
2 mitzvot of Taryag, both positive (#612, #613)

Aliya-by-Aliya Sedra Summary

KOHEN - First Aliya - 3 p'sukim - 31:1-3
Moshe Rabeinu concludes his words to the People and tells them that at his age of 120 years, he is no longer able to lead them. And that G-d has told Moshe that he will not be crossing the Jordan River, so his journey is truly over. He tells them that G-d will be with them, destroy the nations that they will encounter in Eretz israel, and that Yehoshua will be the one to lead them. 

[SDT] Rashi explains that Moshe was not physically incapable of continuing to lead the people; it was G-d Who took the leadership from Moshe and gave it to Yehoshua.

LEVI - Second Aliya - 3 p'sukim - 31:4-6
Moshe reminds the People of the victories they have had, and tells them to be strong and courageous. Not to be afraid. G-d won't abandon them.
Being afraid of the enemy is not a good thing militarily, because they sense fear as a weakness. Being afraid when G-d repeatedly commands us not to be, can be a sign of lack of faith.

[SDT] "For G-d, your G-d, He will go before you..." Why YOUR G-d? Why not Elokeinu - OUR G-d? One commentator suggests that this is a poignant reminder that Moshe Rabeinu will not be entering the Land of Israel, as will all the people to whom he is speaking. The Talmud states that he who dwells outside of Israel, is like one who has no G-d. Moshe, alas, will remain in Chutz LaAretz. 

SHLISHI - Third Aliya - 3 p'sukim - 31:7-9
Moshe then speaks to Yehoshua in front of the assembled people, and asks him to be strong, for he will be leading the people and he will be in charge of conquering and settling the Land. G-d will be guiding you "every step of the way". 

When Moshe finished writing the Torah, he gave it over to the Kohanim, "the carriers of the Ark". 

R'VI'I - Fourth Aliya - 4 p'sukim - 31:10-13
Moshe next commands the People concerning the mitzva of "Hak'hel" [612]. On the Sukkot following the Shmita year, when the people gather in Jerusalem for the Chag, the king shall read (parts of) the Torah to the multitude. The people are to gather at the Beit HaMikdash - men, women,and children - in order to learn, to fear G-d, to hear and understand, and to commit to fulfill all the teachings of the Torah. And the youngsters who have not yet learned, will hear and learn to revere G-d "all the days they shall live in the Land your are about to enter". 

MITZVA WATCH
ITEM: Hak-hel is the prime exception to the "rule" that women are exempt from time-related positive mitzvot. The reason is simple - The Torah states that the mitzva applies to women. 

ITEM: The Sefer HaChinuch explains that since the Torah is the essence of our existence as Jews, it is fitting that every once in a while there be a major "event" that revolves around the Torah to reinforce the concept of the Torah's centrality. It is most fitting that the king be the one to read from the Torah and that it take place in the Beit HaMikdash courtyard, and that it take place during a joyous festival.

ITEM: Hak-hel is observed only when the majority of Jews in the world live in Eretz Yisrael (and Yovel is active). When that is not the case - as in our day - there is a commemorative of Hak-hel which takes place at the Kotel plaza once every seven years, during Chol HaMoed Sukkot following Shmita year. BE THERE. It is special!

CHAMISHI - Fifth Aliya - 6 p'sukim - 31:14-19
G-d calls to Moshe to take Yehoshua and appear with him at the "Ohel Moed". G-d's Presence descended to the Tent in the form of a Cloud. 
G-d tells Moshe that after his death, the people will rebel against Him, stray from the proper path, and embrace other gods. G-d announces that He will show His anger by "hiding His Face" from them. This is a reference to the well-known "hester panim" which manifests itself as G-d "working behind the scenes" only, in hidden, subtle ways. 

This prophecy of Bnei Yisrael turning from G-d need never have happened. We always have the ability to not let a negative prophecy come true. Even if G-d tells Moshe that this was going to happen, every generation can behave properly and, in effect say, We won't let it happen to us. Unfortunately, it did come to pass, more than once. But it doesn't have to, and it is our challenge to not let it happen.

Next is the command to write "The Song" (namely the whole Torah), to teach it to the people, so that it should serve as a testament among the People of Israel. This is mitzva #613, to write a Sefer Torah. 

MITZVA WATCH
Our Sages include in this mitzva the significance of acquiring Sifrei Kodesh (holy books) from which to learn. Since the Torah itself specifies that the "purpose" of writing a Torah scroll is to learn and teach from it, then writing, buying, acquiring all learning texts would be in the spirit of this mitzva. 

The RO"SH (Rabeinu Asher) takes this idea one significant step further - he says that since in our day, the Torah scroll has been relegated to the Aron Kodesh in shul and is used for public reading, but not as a learning text - the MAIN fulfillment of this mitzva "to write a Sefer Torah" is the building of a personal Torah library. Buy Torah texts from which to learn and teach. He adds that it is also praiseworthy if one is privileged to write a Sefer Torah as well. This is an unusual turn-about, which emphasizes the importance of buying sforim - AND USING THEM. Follow this through. If a person is learning a particular volume of Gemara, let's say, and he buys a Gemara and several commentaries to help in his learning, then these purchases are not only that which helps him fulfill the mitzva of Talmud Torah, but the act of buying the S'farim is itself a fulfillment of a mitzva. And a very special mitzva at that — Mitzva #613.

"...and teach it to the People of Israel - place it in their mouths." From here the Gemara teaches us that one must review and review his teachings with his students until they understand. It is not sufficient to just teach; one must work very hard until his students really understand, until it in their mouths. 

SHISHI - Sixth Aliya - 5 p'sukim - 31:20-24
Because, G-d explains, I am bringing the people to a Land flowing with milk & honey. The People will eat in contentment and turn from G-d. The Torah, however, will not be completely forgotten from the lips (and hearts) of future generations. (This will be "their ticket back".) Moshe wrote the Torah on that day (Rambam says that he wrote 13 Torahs - one for each tribe and one in the care of the Kohanim/Leviim) and taught it to the People. G-d "commanded" Yehoshua to be strong and courageous in his new role as leader. Moshe completed the writing of the Torah. (Some say that Moshe even wrote the final 8 p'sukim of the Torah, which discuss his death. Some say Yehoshua wrote them.) 

SH'VI'I - Seventh Aliya - 6 p'sukim - 31:25-30 
Moshe commands the Leviim to take the Torah and place it at the side of the Aron. (Some say that the Torah was in the Aron; others say that it was on a shelf attached to the side of the Aron.) Moshe asks for the leaders of the people to assemble for his final words to them. Moshe tells of the prophecy-prediction of the rebelliousness of the People. Moshe speaks the words of the Song - here probably referring to Haazinu - to all the people, in its entirety. 

The last three p'sukim are read for the Maftir. The honor of Maftir on Shabbat Shuva is usually given to the rabbi or a prominent member of the congregation. 

HAFTARA - 22 p'sukim 9 from Hoshea 14:2-10 , 13 from Yoel 2:15-27
Some add Micha 7:18-20. Minhag Yerushalayim is not to.The choice of the haftara this time is its being Shabbat Shuva, rather than the usual idea of a connection to the sedra. 

SHUVA YISRAEL AD HASHEM... These opening words of the Haftara give the Shabbat its name and basically say it all. Return to G-d. The following pasuk emphasizes the power of prayer in the T'shuva process. The command to repent is accompanied by wonderful promises (prophecies) of redemption and restoration of the former glory of Israel.

The passage from Yoel gives us a Shofar connection to the T'shuva process. Another encouraging note as we face the task of returning to G-d, is His assurance that He is among us - even before our T'shuva. And that He will not shame His people ever.

The last pasuk in Hoshea states, "Who is wise who understands this, an intelligent person will know: G-d's ways are straight, the righteous will walk upon them and the sinner will trip on them." Very often it is the same activity or the same thing that people handle differently, with the result that one person succeeds and the other falters. It is often a matter of attitude.