Today we began learning Parshas Vayakhel, and this year it also comes during what is known as a Shnat Hakhel, a year connected with the mitzvah of Hakhel.
The Rebbe had a unique way of looking at Torah and Yiddishkeit. The Rebbe took every aspect of Torah and every special time in the Jewish calendar and expanded its significance in order to encourage people and strengthen them in their observance of Torah and mitzvos.
Hakhel originally referred to a gathering that took place during the time of the Beis HaMikdash. At the end of the seven-year cycle, after the Shmita year, there was a gathering during the festival of Succos in the eighth year. The Torah commands: “Hakhel es ha’am, anashim v’nashim v’hataf” — gather the people, men, women, and children. At that gathering the king would read sections of the Torah before the assembled nation.
In the straightforward understanding of the mitzvah, this was a single event. Once the gathering took place and the Torah was read, the mitzvah of Hakhel for that cycle had been fulfilled.
However, the Rebbe explained that we should view the entire year as a Shnat Hakhel — a year of gathering. Throughout the entire year we should make an effort to bring people together in order to strengthen one another in Torah and mitzvos and to inspire each other.
In one year when Parshas Vayakhel was read during a Hakhel year, the Rebbe emphasized that every Shabbos can become a Hakhel gathering. Shabbos naturally brings people together in shul and in the community, and it provides an opportunity to inspire and uplift one another.
The Rebbe also understood the human condition very well. Beyond the Rebbe’s greatness in Torah and holiness, he understood how people are inspired. When people gather together, when they learn together and celebrate mitzvos together, the inspiration becomes much stronger.
Recently I saw a powerful example of this. There was a large gathering of Jewish teenagers from the CTeen international program, with participants from many countries and backgrounds. Thousands of Jewish teens gathered together in Times Square, one of the most recognizable places in the world.
Seeing thousands of Jewish teenagers proudly celebrating their Jewish identity, singing, dancing, and expressing their pride in being Jewish was something truly remarkable. When you see something like that, you understand what Hakhel means.
Sometimes we spend time worrying about the challenges facing the Jewish people, but gatherings like this demonstrate the incredible strength and potential within our people.
When Jews gather together with enthusiasm and pride in their Yiddishkeit, it creates inspiration that spreads to everyone involved.
This is the message of “Vayakhel Moshe” — Moshe gathered the people. Gathering together strengthens us and allows us to encourage one another in Torah and mitzvos.
And ultimately, these gatherings prepare us for the great Hakhel of the future, when the Jewish people will gather together with the coming of Mashiach, as the verse says: “Kahal gadol yashuvu henah.”
May we merit to see that ultimate gathering very soon, bimheirah v’yameinu. Amen.