THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR HAGBAH
Ki Savo
We’ve all seen it before. The poor guy who is called up for Hagbah to lift the Torah and is not experienced or up to the task. He picks up the Torah, it wobbles. Our hearts jump. Finally we breathe a sigh of relief when the Sefer Torah is safely placed back down on the Bimah or held tightly on the chair.
Dropping the Torah is a serious scenario. How great is the responsibility that we place on the one entrusted to lift the Torah and hold it up!
Parshas Ki Savo details the ceremony of the blessings and curses which would be declared on Har Gerizim and Har Eival after the Jewish people would enter Eretz Yisroel.
Six tribes would stand atop Har Gerizim and six tribes would ascend Har Eival. The Leviim and Kohanim would stand between the two mountains. They would turn to face each of the Mountains as they declared the blessings and curses for the 11 specific Mitzvos listed in the Parsha.
The Jewish people would respond Amen aloud as they accepted these Mitzvos together with the blessings for their observance and curses should they not be fulfilled.
The final curse is; Cursed is the one who does not uphold the words of this Torah to observe them. The inverse would be Hashem’s blessings for one who does uphold the words of the Torah.
There is debate what “this Torah” refers to. Some say that it refers to the entire Torah, an oath accepting all 613 Mitzvos and the curses that would ensue should they fail to keep it. Others say that it only refers to the Mitzvos in this passage.
There is a fascinating discussion on this final curse in the Yerushalmi (Sotah 7:4).
Literally the verse reads “cursed is the person who does not stand up this Torah”. The Yerushalmi asks, can the Torah fall that it needs to be picked up?
The Yerushalmi offers two explanations of what it means that the Torah could fall and how we must stand it up;
According to the first explanation, the command is being addressed to the Chazan in Shule. Korban Haeidah explains that it is a directive to the Chazan doing Hagbah that they take care so that the Sefer Torah not fall.
Ramban suggests that it is a warning to the Chazan doing Hagbah to make sure to show the Sefer Torah to everyone in Shule; men, women and children, so that they can see its words and pledge their commitment to keep them by declaring “This is the Torah that Moshe place before the Jewish people”. To not do so would be to cause the Torah to fall as people may become lax in their observance.
According to the second explanation, the curse is addressing the Beis Din; the spiritual leaders of the Jewish people, who bare the responsibility of upholding the Torah and ensuring that it is observed and does not fall. Korban Haeida writes that they should speak up and demand from those who have the power to govern so that the Torah values and observance are upheld in our communities.
In the times of King Yoshiahu, the observance of Torah had almost ceased to exist. When he was shown the Sefer Torah (which had almost become lost to the Jewish people), he read this verse “cursed is the one who does not uphold the words of this Torah to observe them.” He tore his clothing and said “it is on me (as the leader, the responsibility) to uphold them.”
The responsibility of a Rabbi, community leader, or indeed any observant Jew is like the responsibility of being called up for Hagbah.
The Torah is placed in our hands to raise up high, to show its words and message proudly so that all can see them. We have to promote observance and commitment to Torah and Halacha within our homes and communities. Certainly we have to ensure that it does not fall.
Whether we chose it or not, as frum Jews we bear this responsibility full-time. The way we conduct ourselves, especially when we interact with others can lift up the pride and honour of the Torah in the eyes of those around us and inspire them draw closer to it. But if our behaviour creates a Chilul Hashem, we can Chas Veshalom cause the opposite.
We’ve just been called up for Hagbah. If we’re a bit wobbly, perhaps we need to work-out some more.
Dropping the Torah is a serious scenario. How great is the responsibility that we place on the one entrusted to lift the Torah and hold it up!
Parshas Ki Savo details the ceremony of the blessings and curses which would be declared on Har Gerizim and Har Eival after the Jewish people would enter Eretz Yisroel.
Six tribes would stand atop Har Gerizim and six tribes would ascend Har Eival. The Leviim and Kohanim would stand between the two mountains. They would turn to face each of the Mountains as they declared the blessings and curses for the 11 specific Mitzvos listed in the Parsha.
The Jewish people would respond Amen aloud as they accepted these Mitzvos together with the blessings for their observance and curses should they not be fulfilled.
The final curse is; Cursed is the one who does not uphold the words of this Torah to observe them. The inverse would be Hashem’s blessings for one who does uphold the words of the Torah.
There is debate what “this Torah” refers to. Some say that it refers to the entire Torah, an oath accepting all 613 Mitzvos and the curses that would ensue should they fail to keep it. Others say that it only refers to the Mitzvos in this passage.
There is a fascinating discussion on this final curse in the Yerushalmi (Sotah 7:4).
Literally the verse reads “cursed is the person who does not stand up this Torah”. The Yerushalmi asks, can the Torah fall that it needs to be picked up?
The Yerushalmi offers two explanations of what it means that the Torah could fall and how we must stand it up;
According to the first explanation, the command is being addressed to the Chazan in Shule. Korban Haeidah explains that it is a directive to the Chazan doing Hagbah that they take care so that the Sefer Torah not fall.
Ramban suggests that it is a warning to the Chazan doing Hagbah to make sure to show the Sefer Torah to everyone in Shule; men, women and children, so that they can see its words and pledge their commitment to keep them by declaring “This is the Torah that Moshe place before the Jewish people”. To not do so would be to cause the Torah to fall as people may become lax in their observance.
According to the second explanation, the curse is addressing the Beis Din; the spiritual leaders of the Jewish people, who bare the responsibility of upholding the Torah and ensuring that it is observed and does not fall. Korban Haeida writes that they should speak up and demand from those who have the power to govern so that the Torah values and observance are upheld in our communities.
In the times of King Yoshiahu, the observance of Torah had almost ceased to exist. When he was shown the Sefer Torah (which had almost become lost to the Jewish people), he read this verse “cursed is the one who does not uphold the words of this Torah to observe them.” He tore his clothing and said “it is on me (as the leader, the responsibility) to uphold them.”
The responsibility of a Rabbi, community leader, or indeed any observant Jew is like the responsibility of being called up for Hagbah.
The Torah is placed in our hands to raise up high, to show its words and message proudly so that all can see them. We have to promote observance and commitment to Torah and Halacha within our homes and communities. Certainly we have to ensure that it does not fall.
Whether we chose it or not, as frum Jews we bear this responsibility full-time. The way we conduct ourselves, especially when we interact with others can lift up the pride and honour of the Torah in the eyes of those around us and inspire them draw closer to it. But if our behaviour creates a Chilul Hashem, we can Chas Veshalom cause the opposite.
We’ve just been called up for Hagbah. If we’re a bit wobbly, perhaps we need to work-out some more.