The Shalosh Regalim are spiritually uplifting times, when we celebrate with Hashem. The Torah enjoins us to come to the Bais Hamikdosh during each of the festivals to experience the holiness and joy of the moment, in the city and edifice where the Shechinah reposes. The Torah mentions the mitzvah of Aliyah l’Regel, going up to Yerushalayim on Yom Tov, three times. There is an inconsistency in the text concerning the manner in which the Torah refers to Hashem in each of these three presentations. In our parsha, He is referred to as “Hashem, your G-d”. In Parshas Mishpatim (Shemos, 23:17), the Torah calls Him “the Master Hashem”. In Parshas Ki Sisa (Shemos, 34:23), the Torah alludes to Him as “the Master Hashem, the G-d of Yisrael.” Why is there a significant change in the manner in which the Torah refers to Hashem?
Horav Meier Shapiro, zl, explains that each mention in the Torah is a reference to Hashem’s revelation in this world. Hashem revealed Himself three times. He first revealed Himself to Avraham Avinu, when the Patriarch was but three years old. Avraham understood from this revelation that there is a “manhig l’birah,” “master to the house,” that Hashem Yisborach guides the world. This concept was Avraham’s primary lesson to a world filled with paganism and immorality. Hashem’s appearance was an introduction, “I am the Master, Hashem.” This coincides with the first time the Torah mentions the mitzvah of Aliya l’Regel.
Hashem’s second revelation was to Yaakov Avinu, when Yaakov dreamt of the ladder upon which angels were ascending and descending, and Hashem was in the Heaven above. Hashem told Yaakov, “I am the G-d of Avraham and Yitzchak; the land upon which you are now resting will be given to you and your descendants.” Hashem appeared now, not just as the Master of the world, but as the G-d of Klal Yisrael. He promised to give Eretz Yisrael to Yaakov’s children. This revelation coincides with the mitzvah of Aliyah L’Regel which is written in Parshas Ki Sisa where Hashem is called “the Master Hashem, the G-d of Yisrael.”
The third time Hashem revealed Himself to Klal Yisrael was during Matan Torah, when He gave the Torah to us. He proclaimed, “I am the Hashem, your G-d, who took you out of Egypt, from the house of servitude.” In what is the first of the Aseres Hadibros, Ten commandments, Hashem goes beyond being the Master of the world and the G-d of Yisrael. He now appears as the personal G-d of each Jew, Who guides our lives through Hashgacha Pratis, Divine Providence. This coincides with the mitzvah in our parsha in which the Torah refers to Hashem as “Elokecha,” your G-d, the personal G-d of each and every Jew. The three festivals imbued these three concepts of emunah in every Jew. Faith in Hashem as Master of the world, G-d of Yisrael, and personal G-d of each Jew, sustains our faith in the Almighty throughout the year.
