Sunday, June 1, 2014

The mitzvah of going to Jerusalem for holidays - aliyah laregel

Hi,

By the Sefer haChinuch's count, the Torah's 489th mitzvah instructs us to ascend to Jerusalem and visit the Beit haMikdash for each of the three major festivals - Pesach, Shavuot and Succot - this is the mitzvah of aliyah laregel. Mitzvah 88 instructs us to bring a korban chagigah in honor of the festival when we arrive, to demonstrate our desire to give to HaShem.


The mitzvah of aliyah laregel provides us an opportunity to re-enact the major theme of these celebrations: The original Jewish journey from Egypt to Israel. We depart from our homes, leaving behind our wealth and trusting HaShem to take care of us along the way and at our destination in Yerushalayim. In this way, we demonstrate our own willingness to match the deeds of our ancestors and achieve greatness.

Have a great day,
Mordechai

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