Hakhel
What Was Read?
According to Rambam: He starts from the beginning of the chumash “These are the words...” (i.e., Chumash Devarim) until the end of the passage ‘Shema’ (6:9). He then skips to the passage ‘Vehayah Im Shamoa’ (11:13-21), and then skips to the passage ‘Asair Te’asair’ (14:22). He then reads from that passage in order until the end of the blessings and curses, i.e., until the phrase: “besides the covenant He established with them in Choreb” (28:69), where he concludes (Laws of Chagiga 3:3).
However, in our text of the Talmud, it reads: He reads from the beginning “These are the words...” (i.e., Chumash Devarim), until Shema (6:4). [He then reads] Shema (6:4–9), Vehayah Im Shamoa (11:13–21), Asair Te’asair (14:22–27), Ki Tichaleh Le’asair (26:12–15), and [he then goes back to read (Rashi)] the passage concerning the appointment of a king (17:14–20), and the blessings and curses (Ch. 28), until he finishes the entire portion (Sotah 41a).
Excerpt from Hakhel: The Inside Story
Published by Sichos in English
