Dear Reader sh’yichyeh,
We have spent much of the year discussing the Mitzva of Hakhel, the Mivtza campaign of Hakhel, and its connection to the Parsha and Yomim Tovim. In this week’s column I would like to address a basic question that is raised in regards to the Mitzva of Hakhel.
The Mitzva of Hakhel is unique in the fact that even though women are generally exempt1 from time bound positive commandments (Mitzvos Aseh Shehazman Grama) – the Mitzva of Hakhel includes men, women and children. This is explicit in the Torah (D’varim 31:10): “Then, Moshe commanded them, saying, ‘At the end of [every] seven years, at an appointed time… 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.’”
Why would the Torah make this special exception – that women should be obligated in a time bound mitzva specifically by the Mitzva of Hakhel? Why is it important that a woman should leave her home – with her entire family – and travel to the Beis HaMikdash to hear Torah from the king?
The answer is very simple: While the actual Mitzva of Hakhel took place at a specific time and place, the effect of the Mitzva is felt all the time and in all places. In the words of the Pasuk describing the purpose of Hakhel, “in order that they learn and fear the Lord, your God, and they will observe to do all the words of this Torah… all the days that you live on the land…” Being that this Mitzva instils the fear of Hashem – and fear of Hashem is something that is needed by all Jews and at all times – even women are responsible. (See Khal Gadol pg. 99)
There is no greater era where fear of Hashem will reign supreme as in the era of Moshiach. The Rambam (Hilchos Melachim chapter 12) describes this wonderful era: “In that era, there will be neither famine nor war, envy or competition for good will flow in abundance and all the delights will be freely available as dust. The occupation of the entire world will be solely to know God. Therefore, the Jews will be great sages and know the hidden matters, grasping the knowledge of their Creator according to the full extent of human potential, as Yeshaya states: ‘The world will be filled with the knowledge of God as the waters cover the ocean bed.’”
Being that this is so, we can understand the words of the Rebbe – Shmini 5751 – that the obligation of bringing Moshiach falls on all Jews, men, women and children. In his holy words: “All Jews, men, women and even children, have the responsibility to increase their efforts to bring our righteous Moshiach in actual reality! Therefore it’s obvious that there’s no place for relying on others or imposing the work on someone else instead of doing it one’s self – but this is the task of every man and woman.”
This Shabbos (K’doshim) is 6 Iyar. Exactly 25 years ago, Vav Iyar 5751, the Rebbe revealed to us that the direct way to bring Moshiach is by learning about Moshiach. This also is the responsibility of all men, women and children. In the words of the Rebbe: “My intention here is action, and certainly the following will be publicized everywhere: In order to realize the immediate revelation and coming of Moshiach – each and every Jew (the men, whether they are dwellers in the tent (Yisachar) or men of business (Z’vulun), and the women and children, each one according to his ability) should increase their learning of Torah, particularly the subjects of Moshiach and Redemption”.
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.
1) The Gemara Kiddushin 29b learns from the pasuk that says “ולמדתם אותם את בניכם” (D’varim 11:19) that the obligation of Talmud Torah applies to men and not women. Next the Gemara Kiddushin 34a derives this Halacha from the juxtaposition in the p’sukim (D’varim 6:7-8 and 11:18-9) between T’fillin and Talmud Torah, just like women are exempt from Talmud Torah so too they are exempt from T’fillin. Then, Gemara kiddushin 35a writes that the pasuk in Shmos 13:9 compares T’fillin to all mitzvos to teach us that just like T’fillin is a positive time bound mitzvah and women are exempt so too all positive time bound mitzvos women are exempt. See the Gemara there for the full discussion. The Mishna Kiddushin 29a rules that women are exempt from positive mitzvos that are time bound. This is codified by the Rambam (Avoda Zara 12:3), Tur and Shulchan Aruch 17:2.