D17
We are to assemble to read and to hear the Torah read during the Festival of Sukkot in the Sabbatical Year.
Category: Days & Seasons
Type: Positive
Form: Explicit
Source dataset: Old Testament
Uniqueness: Unique
Classical commandment: Yes
New Covenant Literal Application
Applies to Person Categories: Everyone
Literal Application: mandated, optional
More explanation about New Covenant Literal Application
The New Covenant Literal Application Code (NCLA) is an interpretive guide used by the authors to indicate which person categories a mitzvah applies to, and at what level of literal compliance.
It combines person categories such as Jewish, K'rov Yisrael, and Gentile, together with male/female distinctions and an application level such as mandated, recommended, optional, or prohibited.
This code reflects the authors' interpretive opinion and is provided for prayerful consideration. On this page, the technical code is summarized into plain language to help new readers understand it more easily.
Detailed codes: GFo - Gentile female, optional | GMo - Gentile male, optional | JFm - Jewish female, mandated | JMm - Jewish male, mandated | KFm - K'rovat Yisrael female, mandated | KMm - K'rov Yisrael male, mandated
Bible references
Key NT Scriptures
- John 7:1-3
Key OT Scriptures
-
Deuteronomy 31:10-13
Bible verses copyright: PUBLIC DOMAIN except in the United Kingdom, where a Crown Copyright applies to printing the KJV. See http://www.cambridge.org/about-us/who-we-are/queens-printers-patent
Commentary
Rabbi Michael Rudolph
We assume that Moses gave this order in compliance with God's directive, so it should be considered Torah . The commandment involves assembling, reading aloud (teaching), hearing, and learning. All of these are good and necessary to do at times other than Sukkot and other than in the Sabbatical Year, but the commandment specifies this particular time, so it should be complied with. Since the designated place of assembly was where the Ark of God was, it is especially important to conduct the reading in Yerushalayim , at the place where the Temple last stood. Jews everywhere should be encouraged to journey there to hear, read, and otherwise participate but, for those who cannot, similar assemblies and readings can be conducted in synagogues elsewhere and at distant parts of the world. Complying with this Mitzvah today is perhaps more symbolic and ceremonial than actually needed to learn the commandments of God because, unlike in the time of Moses, synagogues the world over read through the entire Torah once a year every year, and printed Bibles are generally available to all. That notwithstanding, it is a general principle that blessing follows from literally obeying Torah with a heart to please God and wherever possible. Because this Mitzvah is so closely related to Jewish identity and calling, I consider it to be optional and unnecessary for non- k'rov Yisrael Gentiles.
Classical commentators
Meir does not include this Mitzvah in his compilation, but it is treated by Maimonides and HaChinuch as a requirement for all Jews - including women, even though the commandment appears to be time-dependant. 1 HaChinuch states that the reason this assembly is so important is that possessing the Torah is what distinguishes Israel from the other nations. 1. According to the Mishnah (m. Kidd. 1:7) , women are not required to perform positive time-dependant commandments.
Copyright © Michael Rudolph and Daniel C. Juster, The Law of Messiah, Torah from a New Covenant Perspective, Volume 1 & 2
Classical sources
Maimonides
Maimonides (Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon, 12th century) organized all 613 Torah commandments into a structured list. These linked items show where this Law of Messiah commandment overlaps with that classical framework.
Source and License
Based on The Law of Messiah - Torah from a New Covenant Perspective by Michael Rudolph and Daniel C. Juster.
License: CC BY-ND 4.0 (Attribution required, NoDerivatives). CC BY-ND 4.0
Disclaimer: the original content is authored by Rabbi Michael Rudolph and Rabbi Daniel Juster; additional notes or implementation details on this website are not part of their original work and do not represent their views.
Record source: The Law of Messiah - Torah from a New Covenant Perspective - Volume 1 & 2
Copyright note: Copyright © Michael Rudolph and Daniel C. Juster, The Law of Messiah, Torah from a New Covenant Perspective, Volume 1 & 2