יום ה Date: 16 Elul, 5774 (9/11/14) – Chagigah#3 {Tani}

Child’s Play

[3a bottom] R’ Elazar ben Azaryah: Regarding Hakhel (gathering the nation to hear the Torah from the king reading Devarim aloud every seven years), the Pasuk says to gather the people: men, women, and small children. Men come to learn Torah, women come to hear to better perform Mitzvos, but why do small children come? They are too young to learn or to hear!
It is in order to give reward to those who bring them, their parents, as the children get no educational benefit from coming to the gathering.
Tosephos: This is the reason/basis for the practice of bringing small children to Shul.

T’s Lesson: Why would we allow all kids’ noise, distraction, and lack of concentration for those parents and members of the Minyan involved? Very young children come to shul even if there is no value for the kids themselves, so the parents can get reward. Even if we get a bit upset or distracted by youngsters in Shul we should realize that the parents are getting reward and doing a good thing by bringing children to shul (and even if they may not know it and may have ulterior motives on the surface).