Hakhel

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  1. Torah and Song, Heaven and Earth

    Rabbi Amnon Bazak

    What is the Torah which Moshe is commanded to write? Is it the entire Torah, or only part of the Torah? What is the "song"? Why does God command Moshe to appoint both Torah and Song as witnesses for Bnei Yisrael? Why is one or the other insufficient? And why does Moshe add two additional witnesses - heaven and earth?

  2. "Hak'hel:" The Septennial National Assembly

    Rabbi Elchanan Samet

    Why is the mitzvah of Hak’hel only mentioned in Moshe’s final days? What is the purpose of Hak’hel? This article debates the matter, with special focus on the Rambam’s view, and discusses the division of the Torah into parashot in relation to the mitzvah of Hak’hel.

  3. Be Holy, For I Hashem Am Holy

    Rabbi Yair Kahn | 17 minutes

    This shiur presents various ideas about what it means to "be holy" according to Parshat Kedoshim, and why the command needed to involve gathering the whole congregation of Israelites together (by exploring other instances of gathering the whole congregation). The content of the parasha is analyzed to shed some light on the above questions.

  4. The Juxtaposition of Parashot in Vayelekh and their Significance [audio]

    Rabbi Nathaniel Helfgot | 16 minutes

    What can the order and content of the various sections of Parashat Vayelekh teach us about the complementary roles of routine and novelty in our relationship with God? We examine the peculiarity of Hakhel, raise questions and attempt to answer them, such as: why is it only mentioned in Sefer Devarim, and why does everyone have to attend? We look at Hakhel as a reenactment of the Revelation at Har Sinai, view the tasks of the Leviim as an extension of Ki Tisa, and examine the appointment of Yehoshua. We explore connections between Parashat Vayelekh and the story of Eliyahu at Mount Carmel and his return to Mount Sinai (Horev), along with the command to appoint Elisha. Messages about leadership and cohesion of Am Yisrael emerge.

  5. The Juxtaposition of Parashot in Vayelekh and their Significance [article]

    Rabbi Nathaniel Helfgot

    "Even though we do not seek explanations for the juxtaposition (semikhut) of themes throughout the Torah, we do so in the Mishneh Torah (Sefer Devarim)." (Berakhot 21b) The aim of this article will be to examine the order of the parashot in Parashat Vayelekh and to understand their significance.

    What can the order and content of the various sections of Parashat Vayelekh teach us about the complementary roles of routine and novelty in our relationship with God? We examine the peculiarity of Hakhel, raise questions and attempt to answer them, such as: why is it only mentioned in Sefer Devarim, and why does everyone have to attend? We look at Hakhel as a reenactment of the Revelation at Har Sinai, view the tasks of the Leviim as an extension of Ki Tisa, and examine the appointment of Yehoshua. We explore connections between Parashat Vayelekh and the story of Eliyahu at Mount Carmel and his return to Mount Sinai (Horev), along with the command to appoint Elisha. Messages emerge about the leadership and cohesion of Am Yisrael.

  6. Hakhel, Shmitta, and the Story of Devarim

    Rabbi Dr. Aharon Adler

    תאריך פרסום: תשע"ה | |

    We analyze the connection between Hakhel, Shemitta, in the context of Sefer Devarim as a continuation of the Revelation at Sinai. A major idea emphasized in Sefer Devarim is the preparation of Am Yisrael for entering Eretz Yisrael. There is going to be a need to restate the messages in Sefer Devarim and reenact the experience of revelation at Sinai when re-entering the Land of Israel, played out through Hakhel. We explore the imperative of staying connected to the Revelation at Sinai always, and relate to concepts such as conversion to help us understand the messages of Devarim and how to keep vibrantly connected to the covenant.

  7. Ramban on Kedoshim and Hakhel

    Rabbi David Silverberg

  8. The Teshuva Revolution

    Part 1

    Rabbi Tzvi Sinensky

    The events of Shivat Tzion are cyclical. Although three different sets of events are recorded in our sefer, each mirrors the others. The similarity dramatizes the striking parallel between the events of the early chapters of Ezra, in which the Jews are restored to their homes and engage in a religious revival by rebuilding the altar, and Nehemya’s repopulation and inspiring Torah reading. The details differ and some sixty years separate the two events, but the fundamental challenges of Shivat Tzion remain the same.

    Whereas Ezra was highly esteemed as a scholar and role model, his political acumen was no match for that of Nehemya. Throughout the events which until this point had emphasized matters of security, Ezra stood outside the limelight. Now that things have settled down considerably and Nehemya is finally ready to turn to religious matters, Ezra once again steps forward and plays a prominent role alongside his colleague.

    As we make our way through the Torah reading ceremony, it becomes clear that Ezra’s ritual is intended to recreate the Hakhel ceremony. Hakhel is a septennial recreation of the Revelation at Sinai. Thus, the Torah reading ceremony is a transformative event of Shivat Tzion, and even of Jewish history. It is evident that there was mass ignorance on the part of the remnant in Judea. Had Ezra not ascended from Babylonia, it is not at all self-evident that the Judean community would have ever learned the basics and recommitted themselves to a Torah-based lifestyle. The comparison to Sinai is thus certainly not an exaggeration.

  9. Ezra & Nehemia Celebrate Jerusalem's Jubilee

    Tanach Study

    Shani Taragin | Hour and 12 minutes

    Through an exploration Sefer Nehemia—textual analysis as well as its context and chronological setting, we can understand the challenges of the time and the religious message it carries with it through Shivat Tzion and the rebuilding of Jerusalem. 

    Courtesy of www.tanachstudy.com

  10. Parshat Beshalach Part 6: What's So Evil About Amalek?

    Rabbi Menachem Leibtag | 30 minutes

    This podcast concludes Parshat Beshalach with the eternal law to remember Amalek and a discussion about what makes them so evil. We also discuss the significant parallels between the laws of Shmitta in the Land of Israel and the manna in the desert, leading up to the covenant at Sinai. 

    Courtesy of www.tanachstudy.com