V’zos Habracha Answers:
1) Reuven, for his sin that did with the bed of Bilha. (33:6, Rashi)
2) Yosef. “בכור שורו הדר לו” (33:17)
3) Shimon’s tribe. (Rashi 33:7; See Ramban)
4) He was known to Hashem face to face. This means that he could speak to Hashem whenever he wanted and didn’t have to wait for Hashem to initiate a conversation. (34:10)
5) Gad and Dan. (33:20,22; Not Yehuda who had a lion mentioned in Vayechi)
6) Asher. (33:24; See Rashi)
7) Where Moshe Rabbeinu is buried. (34:6)
More Challenging Questions: From Rashi
8) He praised Hashem. This is appropriate whenever we want goodwill & blessings from Hashem. (33:2, Rashi)
9) The children of Esav in Seir and the children of Yishmael at Har Paran. They both did not wish to accept the Torah and therefore, we were offered the Torah. BH! (Rashi 33:2)
10) Reuven and Yehuda. (33:7)
11) Yosef. (33:12; See Rashi Bereishis 45:14)
12) In times that we are splintered and divided as a nation. However, when our nation is peacefully together b’agudah achas (as a single group) Hashem is our king who will provide for us. (Rashi 33:5)
13) Only Shevet Levi circumcised their sons throughout the 40 years in the wilderness. The rest of Bnei Yisrael did not do so because it was a danger. (33:9, Rashi; Yehoshua 5:7)
14) Rashi (34:12) says that Hashem told Moshe, “Yashar Kochacha for breaking the Luchos” (literally means may your strength be straightened. Most people say, “shkoyach”). Moshe realized that Bnei Yisrael was not worthy of receiving the Luchos at that time and Hashem agreed that he was correct in breaking them.
Answers to Parshas Ha’azinu Bonus Questions
1) When was Parshas Haazinu recited in the Beis Hamikdash?
The gemara Rosh Hashana 31b (see Rashi there) says that the Leviim would sing the song of “Haazinu” on Shabbos during the Mussaf services. It was broken into 6 sections. Additionally, the same way we read this in 6 parts, and the 7th part is the end of the Parsha, we also should read the Parsha on Shabbos in the same way, split into these 7 sections.
2) What are 2 passages from this week’s parsha that we say during davening on Shabbos?
1. In Av Harachamim we say “הַרְנִ֤ינוּ גוֹיִם֙ עַמּ֔וֹ כִּ֥י דַם־עֲבָדָ֖יו יִקּ֑וֹם וְנָקָם֙ יָשִׁ֣יב לְצָרָ֔יו וְכִפֶּ֥ר אַדְמָת֖וֹ עַמּֽוֹ “ (32:43)
2. Prior to the Mussaf and Mincha “Shmoneh Esrei” many recite “כִּ֛י שֵׁ֥ם יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶקְרָ֑א הָב֥וּ גֹ֖דֶל לֵאלֹהֵֽינוּ” (32:3)
3) List 2 cities and one person from Sefer Bereishis mentioned in the Parsha?
a) Sedom and Amorah (32:32) b) Enosh (32:26)