The Tanchuma opens Vayelech וַיֵּלֶךְ מֹשֶׁה וַיְדַבֵּר אֶת הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה אֶל כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל. אֵין וַיֵּלֶךְ אֶלָּא לְשׁוֹן תּוֹכֵחָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: לְכוּ חֲזוּ מִפְעֲלוֹת אלקים. How does the word וילך connote rebuke? Furthermore, what is the תוכחה the Midrash is referring to? The pessukim at the beginning of the parsha, וַיֵּלֶךְ מֹשֶׁה וַיְדַבֵּר אֶת הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה אֶל כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵהֶם בֶּן מֵאָה וְעֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה אָנֹכִי הַיּוֹם לֹא אוּכַל עוֹד לָצֵאת וְלָבוֹא seem to have a contradiction in it, for דבר refers to harsh words but אמר means to speak softly (Makkot 11a,) did Moshe say harsh words or soft words? Why is the mitzvah of hakhal performed after the shmittah year?
"The greatest distance between any two points is the distance that separates our minds from our hearts." That is the וילך, to traverse that distant between the heads and the hearts of Klal Yisrael. Moshe Rabbenu was giving his parting message and he wanted it to pernitrate through their minds and hearts. Therefore, Moshe Rabbenu uses multiple means of conveying his message. The Sforno notes that the opening words of Moshe Rabbenu are words of appeasement but that is followed by words of rebuke Moshe uses all tactics to convey his parting message.
That is why hakhal follows after the shmittah year. After a year where one had time to study Torah, the person's heart is opened and he is able to be inspired by the communal reading of hakhal. The Sifsay Tzaddik goes so far as to suggest a chiddush lihalacha that having a shmittah year is meakev in the mitzvah of hakhal.
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