Dear Chassidim sh’yichyu,
I write these thoughts, on Motzaei Shabbos (of Parshas Nitzavim), after hearing the reading of the Torah by Mincha (Parshas VaYeilech) that speaks openly about the Mitzva of Hakhel:
Then, Moshe commanded them, saying, “At the end of [every] seven years, at an appointed time, in the Festival of Sukkos, [after] the year of release, when all Israel comes to appear before the Lord, your God, in the place He will choose, you shall read this Torah before all Israel, in their ears. Assemble the people: the men, the women, and the children, and your stranger in your cities, in order that they hear, and in order that they learn and fear the Lord, your God, and they will observe to do all the words of this Torah.
Of course, hearing these words once again made me think of the special year – 5776 – which just began, a year in which the aforementioned Hakhel would – and IY”H will – take place in the Beis HaMikdash.
Much has been written about this special Mitzva, and I would like to share some of my thoughts as well. These thoughts are raw and fresh, yet I will try to communicate them in a comprehensive way.
A small background:
It is well known, the answer of Moshiach to the question of the saintly Baal Shem Tov (on Rosh HaShana) “When are you coming”? To which he answered “When your wellsprings will be spread out!”
It is clear that the wellsprings mentioned mean the teaching of Chassidus. These are the teachings taught by our holy Rebbeim. The question – and there is much debate about it – is whether included in that directive is also the spreading of the TEACHER (i.e. the Rebbe) of those wellsprings?
In other words, is it possible that the wellsprings will have the desired effect on the one being taught, if he does not – eventually – know the real teacher behind the teachings?
This is the real lesson from the Mitzva of Hakhel: At a certain point, it must be known and recognized that the Torah being taught comes from the king! One can learn Torah and Chassidus in the comforts of his home and never learn about the existence of the king. So Hashem gives us the Mitzva of Hakhel, to teach us that at a certain point it must be clear to all the existence of the king and that all revelations to the Jewish people go through the king.
The wellsprings/teachings of Torah cannot – and therefore will not – have a lasting affect if there is no recognition of the king that is behind the teachings. He is the well itself from which the wellsprings come forth.
This is especially true in regards to Chinuch in our current time: We all know that it is a difficult challenge to raise Chassidishe children in a very technologically-advanced era, when the concealment is so strong.
Many try to fill this void with videos and descriptions of memories of the Rebbe. While these are very important, this will not provide the necessary strength to the young generation which is being tempted and spiritually attacked every day.
The youth of today need to know – and feel – that Chabad is current and that they have a Rebbe that they can have a personal connection with today. I have spent over ten years now educating and trying to inspire young Bachurim. There is nothing more life-changing as when the young boy gets his first answer of the Rebbe through Igros Kodesh. In one second, he knows that the Rebbe’s mission and vision – doesn’t just belong to his father or eltere chassidim – but rather is current and connected to him.
A boy will find it very difficult to ignore the temptations in front of his eyes and heart for an ideal that he feels deep down is not real and current. As parents and Mechanchim, we must embrace the mitzva of “Hakhel” and bring our children to the Rebbe. It is not – so much – about the Torah that they hear from the king, rather the knowledge that there is a king! Only then will the stories about the king – or his teachings – have the desired and lasting impact.
We must explain to our children that at this point the Rebbe is “A king in the field.” We have a special chance to connect with him now, and only through connecting now (when the king in not revealed in the full glory of the palace), can we be with him in the palace when the Hisgalus happens!
In the spirit of Rosh HaShana: “Zichronos” is very important to mention, but only after you have “Malchiyos” (the knowledge that we have a king). When we live and educate in this specific order, we will merit “Shofros” – the Shofar of Moshiach now!
See you all in the Beis HaMikdash!
Rabbi Avtzon is the Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivas Lubavitch Cincinnati and a well sought after speaker and lecturer. Recordings of his in-depth shiurim on Inyanei Geula u’Moshiach can be accessed at http://www.ylcrecording.com.