Vayeilech – Page 8 – Peninim on the Torah

At the end of each seven years, after the time of the Shemittah year, on the festival of Sukkos…in the place that He shall choose, read this Torah in front of all Yisrael, in their ears (so that they may hear it). Gather the nation… so that they may learn and fear Hashem your G-d. (31:10,11)

The mitzvah of Hakhel, communal gathering, was required every seven years. The impressiveness of this mitzvah is underscored by the fact that every Jew, regardless of age, rank or position, assembled in the courtyard of the Bais Hamikdash on the second day of Succos, in the first year after the previous Shemittah cycle had concluded, to listen as the Melech Yisrael, Jewish king, read aloud special sections of the Torah. The Shem M’Shmuel observes two distinctions concerning this mitzvah. First, the king himself reads from the Torah. Second, the gathering is held during the year following Shemittah. It is well…

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Moshe Marcovich In 5758, Vayeilech

Hashem said to Moshe, Behold you will lie with your forefathers. (31:16)

The word “hin’cha” – “behold you will“, is a compound expression composed of the word “hein,” “behold”, and the suffix denoting “you.” The Midrash tells us that Moshe was unhappy when Hashem introduced his imminent death using the phrase “Hein karvu yamecha lamus, ” “Behold, your days are drawing near.” He asked Hashem how He could have decreed his death with the same word that he had used to glorify the Almighty, declaring, “Hein l’Hashem Elokecha Hashamayim u’Shmei ha’Shamayim,” “Behold to Hashem your G-d are the Heavens and the highest Heaven” (Devarim,10:14). Hashem responded with the word, “hin’cha” stating that…

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Moshe Marcovich In 5758, Vayeilech

It will say on that day, “Is it not because my G-d is not in my midst that these evils have come upon me?” (31:17)

The Sfas Emes cites Horav Bunim M’Pechischa, who states that the actual idea that one says or even thinks that “Ein Elokai b’kirbi,” “My G-d is not in my midst,” constitutes a grave sin which may be the source of his troubles. How does one have “yiush,” how does one despair? Every Jew is enjoined to believe whole-heartedly that Hashem is with him at all times, through all circumstances, under all conditions. Hashem does not, and will not ever, forsake us. We need to be able to say the same regarding our relationship with Him. The Kotzker Rov was once…

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Moshe Marcovich In 5758, Vayeilech

So now, write this song for yourselves, and teach it to the Bnei Yisrael, place it into their mouth. (31:19)

The commentaries discuss to which song Moshe was referring. The question is whether Chazal consider the entire Torah to be a song, or whether the reference is to a specific part. Why is the Torah called a song? Simply put, the Torah represents harmony, a unity of perfection in which every phrase, every verse, every mitzvah is perfect. The Torah is not vulnerable to reform or change. Because it is a Divine composition, it is perfect in every sense. Just as a musical score loses its flavor if one makes a single variation in the notes or rhythm, so, too,…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5757, Vayeilech

My anger will flare against it…And many evils and distress will encounter it…It will say on that day, “Is it not because my G-d is not in my midst that these evils have come upon me?” (31:17)

Klal Yisrael’s sins incurred Hashem’s wrath, as well as His consequent concealment of Himself from them. The pasuk goes on to state that even after Klal Yisrael acknowledged that they were suffering as a result of Hashem’s removal of His Presence from their midst, Hashem continued to conceal Himself from them. While this may be a particularly severe punishment, we are told later that regardless of our sins, the Torah will never be forgotten from our People. If we have the Torah, we still can maintain hope for ultimate reconciliation after we have fully repented. In addressing the meaning of…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5757, Vayeilech

At the end of seven years, at the time of the sabbatical year, on the festival of Succos…gather together the people–the men, the women, and the small children…so that they will hear and so that they will learn, and they shall fear Hashem. (31: 10,12)

veryone came together to hear the word of Hashem, as the king publicly read from the Torah. The mitzvah of Hakhel was performed in such a manner as to include every segment of the Jewish People. Indeed, the Midrash questions the need for bringing along the young children. Chazal tell us, “The men came to learn; the women to hear; and the infants came to provide reward for those who brought them.” We may question the reward provided for those who brought their infants. After all, if there was no intrinsic purpose in bringing the children, why did their parents…

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Sruly Schnair In 5756, Vayeilech

And Moshe went. (31:1)

Moshe went. From where did he come, and to where did he go? The pasuk does not address these simple questions. He simply went! Horav S.Y. Levin, zl, distinguishes between amidah, standing still, and halichah, walking/moving. Each one has its own advantage according to the situation. Moving forward is beneficial, as long as one goes in the right direction. If one has a prescribed course and he maintains it, then the more he walks, the closer he moves to his destination. In such a situation, moving is obviously more advantageous than standing still. Conversely, when one is lost — or…

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Sruly Schnair In 5756, Vayeilech

And Hashem said to Moshe, Behold your days are drawing near to die, summon Yehoshua and both of you shall stand in the Ohel Moed, and I shall instruct him. (31:14)

It would seem that Hashem could instruct Yehoshua, even if Moshe’s days were not drawing to a climax. Why does the Torah seem to emphasize that Yehoshua was receiving his instruction only because Moshe’s life was ending? Could Yehoshua not have received his charge after Moshe’s demise? The Netziv, zl, cites Chazal in the Talmud Bava Basra 75a who teach us that the zekeinim, elders of that generation, compared the “face” of Moshe to the “face” of the sun and the “face” of Yeshoshua to that of the moon. The analogy is interpreted in the following manner: The moon receives…

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Sruly Schnair In 5756, Vayeilech

When all Yisrael comes to appear before Hashem…in the place He will choose. You shall read this Torah in their ears… Gather together the people…so that they will hear so that they will learn…and be careful to perform all the words of this Torah. (31:11,12)

Once every seven years, on the first day of Chol Hamoed that followed the Shemittah year, all of Klal Yisrael was enjoined to gather together at the Bais Hamikdash to listen to the king read from Sefer Devarim. He would read pesukim that dealt with our allegiance to Hashem, the Covenant, and reward and punishment. The primary doctrine of Jewish life is the Torah. Without it, we are nothing. With it, we have the capacity for attaining the greatest spiritual rewards. Consequently, it is only proper that all Jews stand in affirmation of the Torah. Chazal infer from the Torah‘s…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5755, Vayeilech

“Gather together the people — the men, the women, and the young children …” (31:12)

Rashi cites Chazal in the Talmud, Chagigah 3a, who explain that the men came to learn, while the women came to hear, and the children came to provide reward for those who brought them. According to Chazal, it seems that the parents had no particular reason for bringing their children other than providing an opportunity for themselves to receive reward. This is enigmatic! If the sole purpose of bringing the children was to avail the parents of reward they could have been rewarded for bringing wood or stone or anything else for that matter. Why did they specifically bring their…

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At the end of each seven years, after the time of the Shemittah year, on the festival of Sukkos…in the place that He shall choose, read this Torah in front of all Yisrael, in their ears (so that they may hear it). Gather the nation… so that they may learn and fear Hashem your G-d. (31:10,11)

Hashem said to Moshe, Behold you will lie with your forefathers. (31:16)

It will say on that day, “Is it not because my G-d is not in my midst that these evils have come upon me?” (31:17)

So now, write this song for yourselves, and teach it to the Bnei Yisrael, place it into their mouth. (31:19)

My anger will flare against it…And many evils and distress will encounter it…It will say on that day, “Is it not because my G-d is not in my midst that these evils have come upon me?” (31:17)

At the end of seven years, at the time of the sabbatical year, on the festival of Succos…gather together the people–the men, the women, and the small children…so that they will hear and so that they will learn, and they shall fear Hashem. (31: 10,12)

And Moshe went. (31:1)

And Hashem said to Moshe, Behold your days are drawing near to die, summon Yehoshua and both of you shall stand in the Ohel Moed, and I shall instruct him. (31:14)

When all Yisrael comes to appear before Hashem…in the place He will choose. You shall read this Torah in their ears… Gather together the people…so that they will hear so that they will learn…and be careful to perform all the words of this Torah. (31:11,12)

“Gather together the people — the men, the women, and the young children …” (31:12)

YEARS

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