The Last Two Mitzvot of the Torah: Hakhel and Writing a Torah Scroll - How and Why?

Rav Yehuda says that Rav says: With regard to anyone who withholds halakha from being studied by the mouth of a student who seeks to study Torah, it is as though he robs him of the inheritance of his ancestors, as it is stated: “Moses commanded us the Torah, an inheritance of the congregation of Jacob” (Deuteronomy 33:4), indicating that the Torah is an inheritance for all of the Jewish people from the six days of Creation.

(1) To gather all of Israel on the festival of Sukkot: That we were commanded that the people of Israel gather in its entirety...at the closing of the sabbatical year on the festival of Sukkot on the second day of the festival, and read a little from the book of Mishneh Torah in their ears, which is the book of Deuteronomy....

“But behold, gathering which is a positive commandment that is caused by time, and women are obligated!” And they explained... that truthfully women are obligated in this commandment.

(2) It is from the roots of the commandment [that it is] because the entire essence of the people of Israel is the Torah; and through it are they separated from every nation and language, to be meritorious for life of the forever — eternal pleasure that is not surpassed by anything among the creatures. Therefore since their entire essence is in it, it is fitting that everyone should gather together at one point in time to hear its words, and for the voice to go out among the whole nation — men, women, and children — to say, “What is the great gathering, that we have all been gathered together?” And the answer would be, “To hear the words of the Torah, which is our entire essence and glory and splendor.” And they will come from this to tell of the great praise and the splendor of its value; and its yearning will enter all of their hearts. And with this yearning for it, they will learn to know God and merit good, and “God will be happy with His creations” — like the matter that is written in explanation of this commandment “and in order that they will learn and fear the Lord.”

(1) His son Jehoshaphat succeeded him as king, and took firm hold of Israel....

(3) The LORD was with Jehoshaphat because he followed the earlier ways of his father David, and did not worship the Baalim, (4) but worshiped the God of his father and followed His commandments—unlike the behavior of Israel....

(7) In the third year of his reign he sent his officers Ben-hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah throughout the cities of Judah to offer instruction. (8) With them were the Levites, Shemaiah, Nethaniah...; with them were Elishama and Jehoram the priests. (9) They offered instruction throughout Judah, having with them the Book of the Teaching of the LORD. They made the rounds of all the cities of Judah and instructed the people.

(19) Therefore, write down this poem and teach it to the people of Israel; put it in their mouths, in order that this poem may be My witness against the people of Israel. (20) When I bring them into the land flowing with milk and honey that I promised on oath to their fathers, and they eat their fill and grow fat and turn to other gods and serve them, spurning Me and breaking My covenant, (21) and the many evils and troubles befall them—then this poem shall confront them as a witness, since it will never be lost from the mouth of their offspring. For I know what plans they are devising even now, before I bring them into the land that I promised on oath. (22) That day, Moses wrote down this poem and taught it to the Israelites. (23) And [God] charged Joshua son of Nun: “Be strong and resolute: for you shall bring the Israelites into the land that I promised them on oath, and I will be with you.” (24) When Moses had put down in writing the words of this Teaching to the very end, (25) Moses charged the Levites who carried the Ark of the Covenant of יהוה, saying: (26) Take this book of Teaching and place it beside the Ark of the Covenant of your God יהוה, and let it remain there as a witness against you.

(1) For everyone to write a Torah scroll for himself: That we were commanded that each man in Israel must have a Torah scroll... If he wrote it with his [own] hand, this is praiseworthy and very dear; and as they, may their memory be blessed, said (Menachot 30a), “If he wrote it” — meaning to say, with his hand — “Scripture attributes [it] to him as if he received it from Mount Sinai.” But one who is unable to write with his hand must pay someone to write it for him. And about this it is stated (Deuteronomy 31:19), “And now, write for yourselves this poem and teach it to the Children of Israel” — meaning to say, write for yourselves Torah, which contains this poem.

(2) It is from the roots of the commandment [that it is that] since it is well-known about people that they do all of their things according to what is prepared for them, therefore He, blessed be He, commanded that there be a Torah scroll prepared with him, that he can always read from it and that he not need to walk for it to the house of his fellow; “so that he will learn to fear the Lord,” and know and understand His commandments that are more precious and desirable than much gold and fine gold. And we were commanded — each and every one of Israel — to make efforts about this, even if his fathers left him one. [This is] so that scrolls proliferate among us and we can lend them out to the one whose hand is not able to purchase it; and also in order that each and every one of Israel read from new scrolls, lest their souls be sick of reading in the old scrolls that their fathers left them.

(3) And know, my son, that even though the main obligation from Torah writ is only about a Torah scroll, there is no doubt that each one should also make [copies] of the other books that were composed about the understanding of the Torah — according to [his] ability — from the reasons that we said; and even if his fathers left him many of them. And this is the way of all God-fearing men of stature who were before us, to establish a study hall in their house, for scribes to write many books, according to the blessing of God that He gave to them.

"Rosh," R. Asher ben Yehiel; born c .1250 (Germany) - 1327 (Spain); his son, R.Yaakov (d.1340), authors the Tur Shulhan Arukh

(2) הזאת, the portion Haazinu, which testifies concerning the impending disasters if the people were to abandon the path of Torah. If and when this would come to pass, they would know exactly to what to ascribe their misfortune.