2020-5780
Parashat BeHar speaks heavily about the Mitzvah of Shemitah. The Torah writes “Dabeir El Bnei Yisrael VeAmarta Aleihem Ki Tavou El HaAretz Asher Ani Notein Lachem VeShaveta HaAretz Shabbat LaHashem,” “Speak to Bnei Yisrael and say to them: ‘when you come to the land which I give to you the land should be at rest, a Shabbat for Hashem’” (Vayikra 25:2.) Two Pesukim later, the Torah says: “OoVashanah HaSheviit Shabbat Shabbaton Yihiyeh LaAretz Shabbat LaHashem Sadecha Lo Tizra VeKarmecha Lo Tizmor,” “But the seventh year shall be a Shabbat rest for the land, a Shabbat for Hashem, you shall not plant your field and you shall not prune your vineyard” (Vayikra 25:4). Three key questions arise from these two Pesukim. First, what is the rationale behind the Shemitah institution as it seems foolhardy to stop planting and go a full year without any profits? Next, why is the Mitzvah of Shemitah specifically “LaHashem and not another Mitzvah? Finally, why do we mention LaHashem in both Pesukim?
Ibn Ezra, Vayikra 25:2 s.v. Shabbat LaHashem, says that Shemitah is called a Shabbat Shabbaton and Shabbat LaHashem because Shemitah is meant to resemble Shabbat as they both share essential themes. Shabbat is the holiest day of the week just as the Shemitah year is the holiest year of the seven-year cycle which culminates in the Shemitah year. Additionally, they both remind us that Hashem created the world. Therefore, we shut down our lives for a year to grow closer to Hashem.
There is also one other key similarity: they both are complete demonstrations of Emunah. Jews that lived during the very difficult great depression understand this key message. To be a Shomer Shabbat Jew in those years required immense sacrifice and only those with full Emunah in Hashem were able to maintain their Shemirat Shabbat to a full extent. An amazing example of this is Rabbi Jachter’s Grandfather who came to America and was told that he must work on Shabbat. Rabbi Chaim Jachter (who Rabbi Jachter is named after) would not give in and that is a key reason why he has frum descendants, including one who is a TABC Rebbe and the Rav of the Sephardic shul in Teaneck.
Similarly, the message of Shemitah is one of Emunah. In regards to Shemitah, when a person has been struggling to earn an income, it becomes difficult to stop. That person wants to try again to earn a little bit more money, but then the Pasuk says to make this year “Shabbat LaHashem”. We have to literally rest and take a step back to realize that everything is from Hashem. Even when times are good and someone is financially successful, they might think that it is due to their own agricultural or financial prowess. Therefore, the Pasuk repeats “Shabbat LaHashem” to show that we must acknowledge that everything is from Hashem; not just in the bad times but also in the good. Those who have true Emunah in Hashem can take the step back and observe Shemitah because otherwise, it does not seem to make sense.
The Baal Shem Tov famously said that “Everything is by Divine Providence. If a leaf is turned over by a breeze, it is only because this has been specifically ordained by Hashem to serve a particular function within the purpose of creation”(first of the Thirty-Six Aphorisms of the Baal Shem Tov). We learn that Hashem is not just bound to nature but He is everywhere. Everything that someone sees or hears is all for a reason. That is why Shemittah is linked with Shabbat. Believing that everything is from Hashem allows us to not work on Shabbat or during Shemittah.
Similarly, Rav Wolfson, the mashgiach of Torah Voda’as, says that the people living in Eretz Yisrael have a clear vision of what Emunah means. Israel does not have many water sources but today Israel is blessed with an abundance of water. Israel is, Baruch Hashem, thriving agriculturally even though they are in a desert. It is clear that everything is from Hashem and orchestrated by Hashem. If we use this mindset and we do things just because it is what Hashem wants from us, we can accomplish a new level of trust for Hashem, Love for Hashem, and a simple understanding of who G-D really is.
This past week we celebrated Lag Baomer. Rav Shlomo Landau once shared the idea that we are not celebrating the deaths of Rabi Akiva’s 24,000 students, nor are we celebrating that they stopped dying as they stopped dying because there were no more students left to die. Instead, we celebrate that Rabi Akiva was able to recover after the tragedy of losing 24,000 students and by realizing that everything is from Hashem. He lived his life with full Emunah and realized that Hashem controls everything in this world. Thus, he began anew with five students, including Rabi Shimon Bar Yochai who is a key reason why we still have the Torah today. With this in mind, it is clear that Shemita’s purpose is to teach us that everything is in the hands of Hashem.