Chagigah - Chapter 3

It is a positive commandment to gather together the entire Jewish people - men, women, and children - after every Sabbatical year when they ascend for the pilgrimage holiday and to read so that they hear passages from the Torah that encourage them to perfom mitzvot and strengthen them in the true faith, as Deuteronomy 31:10-12 states: "At the end of a seven-year period, at the time of the Sabbatical year on the Sukkot holiday when all Israel come to appear... gather the nation, the men, the women, the children, and your stranger in your gates...."

All of those who are exempt from the mitzvah of appearing before God are exempt from the mitzvah of hakhel with the exception of women, children, and those uncircumcised. One who is ritually impure is, by contrast, exempt from the mitzvah of Hakhel, as implied by the phrase "When all Israel come...," for such a person is not fit to come to the Temple. It is clear that a tumtum and an androgynus are obligated, for women are obligated.

When would they read? On the day following the first day of the holiday of Sukkot which is the first day of Chol HaMoed of the eighth year. The king would read so the people would hear. The reading was held in the Women's Courtyard. He would read while seated. If he read while standing, it is praiseworthy.

From which passages in the Torah should he read? He starts from the beginning of the chumash: "These are the words..." until the end of the passage Shema. He then skips to the passage Vehayah Im Shamoa,and then skips to the passage asair te'asair. He then reads from that passage in order until the end of the blessing and curses, i.e., until the phrase: "besides the covenant He established with them in Choreb" where he concludes.

How is the reading conducted? Trumpets are sounded throughout Jerusalem to gather the people. A large wooden platform is brought and set up in the center of the Women's Courtyard. The king ascends and sits on it so that they will be able to hear his reading. All of the Jewish people who made the festive pilgrimage gather around him. The attendant of the synagogue would take the Torah scroll and give it to the head of the synagogue. He would give it to the segen, who would give it to the High Priest, who would give it to the king. The transfer involved many people as an expression of respect.

The king accepts the scroll while standing. If he desires, he may sit when reading. He opens it, looks at it, and recites the blessings like anyone who is reading the Torah in a synagogue. He reads the passages mentioned in the previous halachah until he completes them. He rolls the scroll closed and recites the blessing afterward as it is done in synagogues. He adds seven blessings which are:

"Grant favor, God, our Lord, to Your people Israel...."

"We thankfully acknowledge You...."

"You chose us from all the nations..." until "Who sanctifies Israel and the festive seasons," as one recites in prayer. Thus there are three blessings with set texts.

For the fourth blessing, he prays for the Temple, that it should remain standing and concludes: "Blessed are You, God, Who dwells in Zion."

For the fifth, he prays for the Jewish people, that their kingdom prevail, and concludes: "...Who chooses Israel."

For the sixth, he prays for the priests, that God should desire their service and concludes: "Blessed are You, God, Who sanctifies the priests."

For the seventh, he offers supplication and prays according to his ability and concludes: "God, deliver Your nation Israel, for Your nation Israel is in need of salvation. Blessed are You, God, Who heeds prayer."

The reading and the blessings are in the Holy Tongue, as implied by Deuteronomy 31:11: "Read this Torah," i.e., in its wording. This applies even though foreigners are present.

Converts who do not understand are obligated to concentrate their attention and direct their hearing, listening with reverence and awe, rejoicing while trembling as on the day the Torah was given at Sinai. Even great Sages who know the entire Torah are obligated to listen with exceedingly great concentration. One who is unable to hear should focus his attention on this reading, for Scripture established it solely to strengthen the true faith. He should see himself as if he was just now commanded regarding the Torah and heard it from the Almighty. For the king is an agent to make known the word of God.

If the day of Hakhel falls on the Sabbath, the gathering is delayed until after the Sabbath, because of the sounding of the trumpets and the supplications which do not supersede the Sabbath restrictions.

Blessed be God who grants assistance.