Hakhal

Rashi (31:12) brings the Gemorah (Chagiga 3a) that ask why are the kids brought along for the mitzvah of hakhal?  Chazal answer to give reward to the one’s that bring them.  Most commentators understand that the Gemorah is referring even to kids that have no understanding of what’s being read; it’s still a mitzvah to bring them.  See for example the Or Hachaim that explains that the Gemorah can only be talking about kids that don’t understand for kids that do understand it says explicitly in verse 13 that they come in order to instill in them the fear of the Lord.  It seems that the Or Hachaim understands the idea of the mitzvah of hakhal is to promote yiras shamayim and that also applies to kids that understand what’s being read. 

However, the Gur Aryeh assumes that for children that won’t understand what’s being read there is no point in bringing them.  He asks if so, what are Chazal asking why do the kids come; they come because of the mitzvah of teaching your child Torah?  He explains the question of Chazal is that if its merely the mitzvah of Talmud Torah that’s the impetus to come, then why specifically at this time and place; it must be there is another reason why the kids must come.  Chazal explain that reason is to give reward to the one’s that bring them.  We see that the Maharal understands the mitzvah of hakhal is to teach Torah and therefore without understanding there is no point.  Rav Hartman in his footnotes asks why there would be a question as to why one must teach their kid in the specific details of the mitzvah of hakhal, if there is a mitzvah of chinuch, it must be done with all the same details as that of a gadol (see Ritvah Sukkah 3a?)  Possibly we can defend the Maharal.  True, chinuch for a mitzvah must be done in the same way as a gadol but here the mitzvah is hakhal and the chinuch is for Talmud Torah.  Therefore, the mitzvah of chinuch of Talmud Torah doesn’t have to fit with all the parameters of the mitzvah of hakhal.  Furthermore, it could be that these are two independent dinim.  The mitzvah of chinuch dereban is training for the child and must be done as if he’s a gadol.  The chinuch of Talmud Torah is a Torah commandment to teach the child how to learn Torah but not necessarily must it comply with the details of the mitzvah of a gadol for the point is that he should have the tools to learn on his own, not the mitzvah per say.          

The Rambam at the end of the laws of the Chagigah describes hakhal as a remembrance of Matan Torah.  The Rambam explains that’s why it must be read in Lashon Hakodesh even if the people don’t understand the language.  Rav Yitzchok Sorotzkin contrasts this with the regular obligation to read the Torah which is a law of teaching Torah.  (See Babba Kama 82a.)  However, we see that the Rambam didn’t understand like the Maharal that hakhal is a means of teaching Torah.  However, why would there be a mitzvah to commemorate Matan Torah, what’s the point?  Along the lines of the Or Hachaim we can understand that it’s to arouse yiras shamaim.  It’s clear from the Rambam that this effect happens even if the words being read aren’t understood.   The holy words of the Torah can pierce to the soul in a way that goes beyond the mental capacity of the person’s understanding of the Torah (see Meshech Chachmah.)