​Chol Hamoed Succot 5786, 2025: "Beyond Time"

Rabbi David Etengoff

ה' יעזור וירחם על אחינו כל בני ישראל בארץ ישראל ובכל חלקי הארץ
 
The public reading of Megillat Kohelet is one of the highlights of Shabbat Chol Hamoed Succot.  One of its standout passages contains the first eight verses of chapter three:

Everything has an appointed season (l’kol zeman), and there is a time for every matter (v’ate l’kol chafetz) under the heaven. A time to give birth and a time to die; a time to plant and a time to uproot that which is planted. A time to kill and a time to heal; a time to break and a time to build. A time to weep and a time to laugh; a time of wailing and a time of dancing. A time to cast stones and a time to gather stones; a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing. A time to seek and a time to lose; a time to keep and a time to cast away. A time to rend and a time to sew; a time to be silent and a time to speak. A time to love and a time to hate; a time for war and a time for peace. (This, and all Bible and Rashi translations, The Judaica Press Complete Tanach)
 
A straightforward reading of the verse, “Everything has an appointed season (l’kol zeman), and there is a time for every matter (v’ate l’kol chafetz) under the heaven,” suggests that it is a preface to the various times found in the subsequent pasukim. The Maharal of Prague (Rabbi Yehudah Loew ben Bezalel, d. 1609), however, maintains that it is far more than an introduction to the rest of the chapter. Moreover, he maintains that “l’kol zeman” and “v’ate l’kol chafetz” refer to entirely different subjects: the former emphasizes physical objects and actions, and the latter focuses upon the intellect:

Those matters that are [discussed in Midrash Kohelet Rabbah on our verse] are physical in nature, including Adam entering Gan Eden and his exit therefrom, the destruction of the world [at the time of Noach] and its repopulation, and Avraham’s brit milah. The body is subject to time. It is fitting, therefore, to use the expression, “l’kol zeman,” when referring to these matters. In contrast, something that is purely intellectual in nature, [as signified by “v’ate l’kol chafetz] namely, Kabbalat HaTorah, is removed in its very essence from all physical matter and is not time-bound..” (Sefer Tiferet Yisrael, Chapter 25, this, and the following translation and textual notations my own)
 
The Maharal further expands upon his fascinating analysis in this manner: “This means that the matter [Torah] is completely of the intellect and, therefore, it is not under the control of time. As such, it is permanently in the present (b’atah), even in regards as to when it was given [at Har Sinai] at that particular time…” This  powerful concept enables us to understand why the phrase, “asher anochi metzavecha hayom” (“that I am commanding you this day”), is found no less than 19 times in Sefer Shemot and Sefer Devarim regarding the Torah and its mitzvot. As Rashi (1040-1105) so beautifully explains, “They (the words of the Torah) should not appear to you as an antiquated edict that no one cares about, but as a new one, which everyone rushes to read.” (Sefer Devarim 6:6)
 
We will soon be celebrating Simchat Torah. With Hashem’s help, may this joyous day be one wherein we recognize the timeless nature of the Torah viewing it as a new and precious gift each and every day. V’chane yihi ratzon.
Shabbat Shalom and Chag Sameach!
 
Past drashot may be found at my blog-website: http://reparashathashavuah.org
They may also be found on http://www.yutorah.org using the search criteria Etengoff and the parasha’s name.
 
The email list, b’chasdei Hashem, has expanded to hundreds of people. I am always happy to add more members to the list. If you have family or friends you would like to have added, please do not hesitate to contact me via email mailto:[email protected].
 
*** My audio shiurim on the topics of Tefilah and Tanach may be found at: https://www.box.com/s/7bf01f9abcabf02e25c3
 
*** I have posted 164+ of Rabbi Soloveitchik’s English language audio shiurim (MP3 format) spanning the years 1958-1984. Please click on the highlighted link.

---