Eliezer Meir Saidel: Vayeilech (JP)

Compulsory Attendance - Vayeilech

One of the most ceremonious mitzvot in the Torah is the mitzvah of Hakhel. Once every seven years, at the end of a Shemittah year, during Chol HaMoed Sukkot, a Hakhel ceremony would take place.

Before the festival began, they would erect a wooden stage in the courtyard of the Ezrat Nashim  (Womens’ Courtyard) in the Beit HaMikdash, in preparation for the great event. On the day of the Hakhel, all the Kohanim in Jerusalem (and I mean ALL) would blow golden trumpets “Tekiah, Teruah, Tekiah.” Any Kohen who was not trumpeting was not considered a “real” Kohen. It was a thriving business for merchants to rent out trumpets on that day.

The king would then step up onto the stage. The Chazan HaKnesset (not the Israeli parliament, one of the Mikdash dignitaries) would take a Sefer Torah and ceremoniously hand it to the Head of the Knesset, who handed it to the Deputy Kohen Gadol, who handed it to the Kohen Gadol, who handed it to the king. The king then read various portions from the Sefer Torah, either standing or if he chose – sitting. The king would do then do Gelilah with the Sefer Torah and recite a series of blessings.

It is the only chag where everyone is commanded to attend. All the pilgrims to Jerusalem – all of Am Yisrael – men, women, children and even infants were in attendance. The women, daughters and infants were up on the balconies surrounding the Ezrat Nashim and the men and sons in the courtyard below.

We are talking about millions and millions of people. Logistically speaking, it is unfeasible that all of Am Yisrael could even fit into the city of Jerusalem, let alone the Mikdash! Never mind them all hearing the reading of the Torah by the king. There are different opinions in the Gemara (Sota 41a) and the Tosefta (Sota chap. 7) exactly where the ceremony was held. For our purposes here, we will assume that there was some kind of miracle that took place and everyone was indeed in the Mikdash.

The Rambam explains why Hakhel is such monumental event – because it is a reenactment of Matan Torah! (trumpet blasts and all). HaKadosh Baruch Hu did not want Am Yisrael to become detached from their wellspring – the Torah. Once it happened that they did.

Chazal say that for three days after Am Yisrael gathered all the “loot” from the Egyptians who drowned in the Red Sea, they neglected to study Torah, which set off a series of complaints and rebellions against Moshe and HaKadosh Baruch Hu Therefore, it was instituted that three days cannot pass without the Torah being read. This is why, to this very day, we read the Torah at least every Monday, Thursday and Shabbat (in addition to any other festivals in that may fall during the week).

HaKadosh Baruch Hu wants us to remain umbilically attached to the Torah. A king in Am Yisrael is actually “physically attached” to a Sefer Torah. Besides being individually attached to the Torah, we are also required to communally be attached to the Torah. For example, every Pesach we have a Seder which is a kind of Hakhel – but in the forum of a family! Once every seven years we have the most significant event in this regard – the actual Hakhel on Sukkot, which, as the Rambam says, is a reenactment of Matan Torah on Har Sinai. All these serve to preserve our status of the Nation of the Book.

There is a famous quote from the late prime-minister Ben Gurion, speaking at an Anglo-American Conference. “The sailing of the Mayflower 300 years ago is a cornerstone of American history. How many Americans today can tell you what date the Mayflower sailed, how many pilgrims were on it and what they ate? But ask any Jewish child aged 6, what date the Israelites left Egypt during the Exodus 3,000 years ago, how many people left and what they ate.”

This is due to our umbilical connection to the Torah which is “reenacted” and refreshed at small, regular intervals, culminating in the stupendous Hakhel.

In a few days we will enter Yom Kippur. G-d willing we should all be sealed for a year of life, a year of being umbilically connected to HaKadosh Baruch Hu and the Torah. A year in which we will have parnassah, in abundance. A year of good health. A year of unity in Am Yisrael, unity between spouses and unity between parents and children. And … iy”H it will be the year in which the Beit HaMikdash is rebuilt, speedily in our days.

 

Parshat HaShavua Trivia Question: The pasuk says Vayeilech Moshe (Devarim 31:1). Where did he go?

Answer to Last Week’s Trivia Question: HaKadosh Baruch Hu asks the Heaven and earth to bear witness to His covenant with Am Yisrael (Devarim 30:19). Why specifically these two witnesses? Just as the sun always rises in the east and sets in the west and just as when you plant wheat, the earth gives forth wheat and not barley – neither veer from the laws of nature, even though they receive no reward for doing so. How much more so should we, Am Yisrael, who do receive reward – keep our covenant with HaKadosh Baruch Hu (Rashi, ibid. quoting the Sifri).