Inspired Story: Parshas Nitzavim Vayeilech 5786
In this week's Parsha we have the Mitzva of Hakahel. After the Shmitta year on Sukkos all of Klal Yisrael, men, women and children would come to the Beis Hamikdash. There they would hear the whole Chumash Devarim from the King. Hashem tells Moshe 'that they (Klal Yisrael) will learn to fear Hashem your G-d all the days.'
The Gemarah (Chagiga 3:) says, the men come to learn, the women come to listen, but why did the children come? They are too young to understand anything.
The Gemarah answers that the children come in order to give reward to their parents that bring them. What reward do the parents get for bringing their young children?
The Ohr Hachaim answers that the reward is that the parents will be able to bring up their children easily and see them growing up to be the way they should be.
What connection is there between the two?
The answer is, when a child no matter how small they are see such a huge crowd and they see that they are part of them it has a powerful impact on their souls. It is a live lecture of Yiras Shamayim.
When Rabbi Simcha Bunim of Pershischa passed away, his students split up. The majority followed Rabbi Menachem Mendel, the Kotzker Rebbi. A smaller group followed Rabbi Yitzchok, the Rebbi of Vorke. Their ways in their Avodas Hashem were very different.
One day the Vorke Rebbi was walking down the road and a wagon full of Chassidim on their way to Kotzk passed by. One of the travellers told the wagon driver to stop.
He turned to the Rebbe and called out, “Reb Itche (the Polish way for someone called Yitzchak), why are you being so stupid and playing to be a Rebbi. Stop the game, join us and come to the holy Rebbi of Kotzk.”
All the travellers were taken aback by his chutzpa and were too shocked to reply.
But the holy Rebbi of Vorka was unfazed. He smiled and said, “I always wondered. When three friends buy a lottery ticket together and win the jackpot, one hundred thousand rubles. They will divide between themselves and won't even know what to do with so much wealth they just received. They have enough for themselves, their children and grandchildren. But one thing is for sure, you won't see them calling another friend and split their money into four, even though there's enough for all of them. So why is it when a Chassid has a Rebbi he tries to invite other friends to join him? His Rebbi has a busy schedule, he prays, he studies, he is busy with his Avodas Hashem and still has to put away some time for his students. The more students there are, the less private time he can allocate for each one. So why would any wise Chassid try and give away some of his private time for his friend," asked the Vorke Rebbi?
No one had ever thought of such a brilliant question. All the travelling Chassidim had nothing to answer.
The Rebbe continued, “I will tell you the answer. The Chassid isn't one hundred percent sure how great his Rebbi really is. Yes he is a big Tzaddik and very holy, but how big, how holy, he's not quite sure. So he starts looking for friends to join him and if they agree that his Rebbi is so great that gives him the stamp and proof that his Rebbi is really great, and that he made the correct decision in the Tzaddik he chose as his Rebbi."
"My dear friend,” continued the Rebbi, “I have known your Rebbi for many years. Trust my word that he is a very holy and great man. You can be relaxed that you have made a good decision. You can travel to your Rebbi without having to pull anyone along with you.”
The Rebbi's answer gives us food for thought.
However, there is another answer to the Rebbi's question.
A community, a Chassidic court, a Yeshiva has two parts. The connection with the Rebbi, the Rav, the Rosh Yeshiva, and the community itself. Each in itself has a major plus. A close connection with a Rebbi, Rav or Rosh Yeshiva is so important for our success. But at the same time praying with hundreds or thousands of Jews, studying in a Beis Hamedrash with thousands of Jews is electrifying in itself and has an automatic impact on us.
That was Hakhel!
All the Jews, men women and children, all together listening to the reading of the Torah from the King.
A child that saw such a crowd at the Beis Hamikdash wouldn't forget that sight. It would stay in his bones ‘all the days' as the Passuk says. Wherever and whenever, the memories and impression from that experience would always remain.
It is so appropriate to read this Parsha this Shabbos. On Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur we say in our Shemone Esrei 'Veyei'asu chulam agudah echas la'asos retzoincha beleivav shalem'. We pray that everyone should join up as one group to serve Hashem with an entire heart.
May Hashem bless all of us that we merit to see that amazing sight, of the whole world, millions of people all serving Hashem and us being part of them with the coming of Mashiach in the near future, Amen.
