Deuteronomy · Weekly Torah portion
Parashat Vayeilechוַיֵּלֶךְ
Torah reading
Deuteronomy 31:1-30
Haftarah
Isaiah 55:6-56:8
What happens in Vayeilech
The shortest parsha in the Torah — thirty verses. Moses, at 120, walks — vayeilech — among the people to say goodbye, installs Joshua with the words 'Be strong and courageous,' and writes down the Torah. He commands hakhel: every seven years the entire people — men, women, children, and strangers — gather to hear the Torah read aloud, so that even those 'who do not know' will hear and learn.
Big themes
- Courage at handoff
- Torah read aloud for all
- Graceful goodbyes
If this is your bar or bat mitzvah portion
Moses's parting gift is a public Torah reading for everyone — the ancestor of the very Torah service where a bar or bat mitzvah stands today. 'Be strong and courageous' is said to every student who takes over from a teacher. It's your turn to carry it.
Learning to chant Vayeilech?
Ready 13 builds a verse-by-verse practice plan for this exact portion — chanted reference audio, karaoke highlighting, trope games, and a countdown that keeps the big day on track.
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