In Parshas Re’eh, Moshe gives over to
Bnei Yisrael many mitzvos which show how we are different from the other
nations of the world. Among them are an obligation to destroy places of Avoda
Zara, the laws of Bamos (private alters), the laws of eating korbanos and other
consecrated foods, and maaser (tithes). All these mitzvos are obligations which
show how we are different; a very important idea as Bnei Yisrael get closer to
Eretz Yisrael and its’ seven nations of Goyim.
The parshah ends with a discussion of
the שלש רגלים
(Shalosh
Regalim), the Three Pilgrimage Festivals. Reading the pesukim, we see an interesting
pattern developing. By the eight pesukim which discuss Pesach, not a single
mention is made of the obligation to be happy on the Holiday. However, by the
holiday of Shavuos, the pasuk mentions it once, “וְשָׂמַחְתָּ לִפְנֵי | יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ” “And you shall rejoice before Hashem,
your God”
(Devarim 16:11); and by Succos it’s mentioned twice, “ושמחת בחגך …" והיית אך שמח “And you shall
rejoice in your festival…and you will only be happy” (16:14-15)! If
all the holidays are meant to be celebrated with extra happiness, why is happiness
not mentioned by Pesach and also, why do we need these extra mentions by Succos
and Shavuos?
The Meforshim have several explanations but
they all center on the status of the crops. The Baal Haturim says that on
Pesach the crops have not yet been harvested and therefore your simcha is not
complete as you are still worried about them. Will there be a plague? Will
pests get into them? This will weigh down your mind and prevent you from fully
experiencing the happiness of the holidays. On Shavuos, the fields have been
harvested but not the vineyards; therefore there is only one mention of simcha.
On Succos, when everything has been harvested, your simcha is finally complete
and therefore, the pasuk mentions it twice. The Chizkuni adds in a small point
that one of the reasons that the Shalosh Regalim are at these times of the year
is because these are times of harvesting and we are happy as a result of
it. The main idea of Pesach though, is the Exodus from Egypt and therefore does
not deserve an extra mention of simcha like Shavuos and Succos.
Sefer Devarim is the sefer where the mitzvos
changed from ideas to reality for Bnei Yisrael. We see that in this parshah and
specifically this mitzvah of the Festivals. With all the ideas and themes
surrounding these Holidays, we see a new one here; even a holiday set up to
celebrate Hashem, His city, and His holy nation, still revolves around your
personal simcha of your everyday life. Have your crops come in? Are you set up
financially for the coming season? Is everything okay with you? In that case,
let us celebrate! I believe that this combination of spirituality and real life
issues was Moshe’s way of preparing Bnei Yisrael for life beyond the border and
into Eretz Yisrael. May we see the Beis Hamikdash rebuilt speedily in our days
and celebrate the festivals together in the holy city of Yerushalayim!
Shabbat Shalom!
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