Parashat VeYeilech includes the final two Mitzvot in the Torah: Hakheil(the Mitzvah for Bnei Yisrael to gather together in Yerushalayim and learn Torah) and writing a Sefer Torah. Both of these Mitzvot have a clear purpose of ensuring that the Torah and its values are passed down to future generations. However, while the Mitzvah of writing a Sefer Torah applies year-round, Hakheil happens very rarely: “מִקֵּץ שֶׁבַע שָׁנִים בְּמֹעֵד שְׁנַת הַשְּׁמִטָּה בְּחַג הַסֻּכּוֹת…הַקְהֵל אֶת־הָעָם,” “On the Sukkot of the first year of the Shemitah cycle… gather the nation” (Devarim 31:10-12).
Why does Hakheil occur so rarely, and why does it happen specifically on Sukkot of the year after Shemitah (a time we are approaching in about a week)?
The Abarbanel suggests that Hakheil takes place on Sukkot because that is when Israel has ideal weather, so it would be easiest for people to travel to Yerushalayim. If that is true, why does the Torah command Bnei Yisrael to do Aliyah LaRegel on Shavuot, a time of burning heat in Yerushalayim? Also, this Abarbanel only addresses why Hakheil takes place on Sukkot, not why it happens the year after Shemittah.
Ralbag uses the greater context of this Mitzvah to explain the reasoning for Hakheil being on Sukkot. Ralbag explains that the theme of Bnei Yisrael forgetting Hashem after being wealthy and prosperous is prevalent throughout Devarim. Hakheil is also part of that theme, Ralbag suggests, as often people are wealthiest during the harvest season, i.e., Sukkot. However, this answer is difficult as Bnei Yisrael were not prosperous after Shemittah because they couldn’t work the land for the entire year and thereby had very few crops to harvest during Sukkot time.
Rav Dovid Tzvi Hoffmann views the lack of wealth after Shemittah as the whole point for Hakheil taking place during the Sukkot after Shemittah. During Shemittah, Bnei Yisrael were left to the mercy of God as Bnei Yisrael couldn’t work the land or provide food for themselves. Hakheil is Bnei Yisrael’s opportunity to thank Hashem for providing for them during the Shemittah year.
While Rav Dovid Tzvi Hoffmann views Hakheil as an opportunity for Klal Yisrael to reflect positively on the previous Shemittah cycle, Rav Hirsch views Hakheil as an opportunity for Klal Yisrael to improve their prospective. Rav Hirsch explains that the Shemittah is the end of an agricultural cycle. Therefore, the year after Shemittah and the time of Hakheil is the beginning of the agricultural cycle. Hakheil’s purpose, Rav Hirsch explains, is to remind people, at the start of the agricultural cycle, that all of their future agricultural successes come from Hashem.
As Sukkot approaches, let us all be Zoche to strengthen our Emunah by recognizing Hashem’s assistance throughout this past year and praying for success in all our future endeavors this year.