THIS WEEK'S TORAH COMMENTARY

Dvar Torah for Parshat Netzavim-VaYeilech

"At the end of seven years, at the time of the Sabbatical year, on the festival of Succot…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 awe of Hashem."

-Deuternomy, 31:10,12

These verses describe the mitzvah of hakel, in which the entire Jewish people gather together by the Beit Hamikdash (the Temple) and listen to the King read the Torah. In modern times we have re instituted this mitzvah, and seven years ago I was personally at the Kotel as the then President of Israel read this section of the Torah.

What is curious about the Torah's statement is that we are instructed to bring infants to the proceedings. The word the Torah uses, Taf, is used specifically for infants. Why would there be a mitzvah to bring infants to hear a Torah reading, they couldn't possibly understand what was going on?

Rashi says that the reason that the parents are supposed to bring the child is so that the people who bring the child will be rewarded in heaven for their act. However, that doesn't really answer the question, why should someone be rewarded for an act that will not have any purpose?

I think that Rashi might be teaching us an important lesson. The point of bringing infants to hear the Torah reading is so that you realize it is your Mitzvah too. Very often, when we educate our children we feel that we are giving to them. While that is certainly true, it is so much more. When we teach Torah children, be it our children or other children, it is our Mitzvah as well. We all have an obligation to teach Torah to the next generation and work towards insuring the future of the Jewish people. By bringing the infant to the Hakel service the Torah sends a message that even if the child doesn't understand what is being said, WE understand the importance of including Jewish children and promoting their growth.

Have a good Shabbos and a sweet new year.

Rabbi Joshua Strulowitz
Rabbi@AdathIsraelsf.org