Derasha 2 on Vezos Haberachah 33:4

Parashas Vezos Haberachah · Passuk 33:4

The Complete Passuk

תּוֹרָה צִוָּה לָנוּ מֹשֶׁה מוֹרָשָׁה קְהִלַּת יַעֲקֹב

Chabad.org — Devarim 33

Source Citation

Torah Temima points to the first verse taught to a child who can speak.

Sefaria — Devarim 33:4

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
תָּנוּ רַבָּנָן, קָטָן הַיּוֹדֵעַ לְדַבֵּר, אָבִיו מְלַמְּדוֹ תּוֹרָה. מַאי הִיא? אָמַר רַב הַמְנוּנָא, תּוֹרָה צִוָּה לָנוּ מֹשֶׁה מוֹרָשָׁה קְהִלַּת יַעֲקֹב

English: The Sages taught: When a child knows how to speak, his father teaches him Torah. What [verse] is it? Rav Hamnuna said: “The Torah that Moshe commanded us is the heritage of the congregation of Yaakov.”

Type of Learning

The designation of the first formal verse of Torah education for a speaking child.

What Chazal Learned

As soon as a child can form words, the father begins Torah instruction with this verse. It places the child immediately inside the inheritance of the entire community of Yaakov and establishes the lifelong relationship of the Jew to the Torah.

Audio: dafyomi.org · YICC (Rav Etshalom)