This week's Miller's Musings is sponsored
לעילוי נשמת
לאה בת אברהם
ולרפואה שלמה לנפתלי מאיר בן אסתר
דבס''
MILLER’S MUSINGS
וילךפרשת
Bring The Kids Along
All the Jewish people gathered together in the Beis Hamikdosh. All there to witness the king’s recital of the Torah for the mitzvah of Hakhel. It must have been an awesome sight to behold and one which would provide inspiration and wonder in equal measure. Man, woman and child were required to come witness this event, all for different reasons. But it is the rationale behind the children coming that I would like to discuss. For the reason given is in order to grant reward to the ones who bring them. But if there is an intrinsic purpose in the youth being there, then wouldn’t that be reason enough? And if there is no inherent reason for their presence, then what would the reward be for? Just for carrying them there without any actual objective to their attendance!
The mitzvah of Hakhel took place every seven years and entailed far greater depth than merely a mass gathering of the people, even in such a holy setting and as part of such a sacred occasion. In fact, says Reb Yitzchok Hutner zt’l, the entire process was in essence a reenactment of the giving of the Torah at Sinai. It was able to somehow convey the power and majesty of that unparalleled experience and impact on those present accordingly. The Rambam in fact talks of the need for the people there “to listen…like the day it was given at Sinai” and to “see himself as if he was now commanded about it and heard it from the mouth of Hashem”. Once we have said this we understand the need for children to be amongst the onlookers. For if it is to truly emulate the Divine Revelation at Sinai, it must include all those who witnessed that event, which of course included even the youngest of the Jewish people. This was the basis for the reward the ones bringing them received. Because it allowed Hakhel to truly reflect the single greatest event in human history; Har Sinai.
Hashem came down to this world and bestowed upon us the most precious gift mankind will ever receive. Yet we have an obligation to continue this transmission, throughout the generations, passing on the Torah’s teachings wherever and however we can. This commandment to carry our children along with us, communicates to us the essential role that our children must play in this transmission. It is not enough to hope they will pick up where we left off, but we must actively take them with us. We must do whatever it takes to ensure they experience the Torah in a way that sweeps them up in its truth, beauty and profundity. We must utilise whatever approach has the most impact on them in the most positive way possible, and give careful consideration to what that approach may be. If we are not thinking as individuals and as a community about our children, we are leaving a gaping chasm that any number of corruptive influences are waiting and willing to fill. Let’s bring them along and fill it with Torah so that our future as a people is ensured until Moshiach is here and we witness His revelation once again and the whole world sees it too.
*May this Shabbos be as wondrous to our children as it is to us*
לעילוי נשמת לאה בת אברהם
PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PRINT OFF
AND DISTRIBUTE IN YOUR SHUL
No comments:
Post a Comment
Please let me know if you enjoyed this week's Musings or if you have any other comments that you would like to make about the ideas discussed. I would love to hear from you.