But in the seventh year, the land shall have a complete rest a Sabbath to the Lord; you shall not sow your field, nor shall you prune your vineyard.
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דוּבַשָּׁנָה הַשְּׁבִיעִת שַׁבַּת שַׁבָּתוֹן יִהְיֶה לָאָרֶץ שַׁבָּת לַיהֹוָה שָׂדְךָ לֹא תִזְרָע וְכַרְמְךָ לֹא תִזְמֹר:
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How is the seventh year a “Sabbath to the Lord”?
The Ramban explains that the relationship between Shemitah and Shabbat is that they both offer proof to Hashem’s creation and show that he rested on the seventh day.
Why does Hashem implement a seventh year of no work? How does the land have complete rest? What are other restrictions that Hashem put in place during Shemitah?
Dina Wagner:
ReplyDeleteThe Ohr HaChaim says that Hashem created the mitzvah of Shemittah for Bnei Yisroel to see two miracles that would strengthen their belief in Him.The first is that the land would continue to produce year after year without any rest (for 6 years) which is counter to normal agricultural procedure. The second miracle is that Hashem instilled into the land exceptional strength, that in the sixth and final year of production it would produce a triple crop - enough food for the sixth year, Shemittah, and the beginning of the eighth year until the new crops can be harvested. The Kli Yakar, adds to this and says, that Hashem's suspending the "laws of nature" steered the Jewish people from viewing nature as the source of their success, and instead as intended, strengthened their absolute trust in Hashem.
Rashi says that the purpose of Shmita is to make everyone feel equal. You, your slaves, and your workers are all the same in regards to social status in those years, because there is no owner of the crops.
ReplyDelete5- Rabbi Eli Ozarowski teaches that now a days shmitah poses a serious problem. When shmetah was first created by Hashem, Hashem’s presence was known to the world, and so the Jews could trust and know that Hashem will provide for them. That Hashem would provide this miracle of providing food for the nation, despite the fact that they were not working it. But now a days Hashem’s presence is not seen, he is “hester panim”, meaning His miracles are not seen they are hidden. And so during the shemtah year when the Jews of exile follow shmetah they are doing it out of pure trust in Hashem. That Hashem may not even do anything to help them because His miracles are hidden, but the people following shmitah hope that Hashem will revel Himself and his miracles for them.
ReplyDeleteRabbi Ari Enkin explains that there is NO need to worry about survival/struggling to pay the bills during the shmeita year. The purpose of Shmita is to teach all of us that Hashem is the one who is really in charge and that He is the one who decrees how much each of us will make this year and every year. No Jewish farmer ever starved to death for observing the laws of shmita. You do not lose for observing the Torah… you can only gain!
ReplyDeleteThought this was cool: Some argue that Shemittah enables the field to rest on Shabbat. It is true that we rest on Shabbat, but even as we rest, our fields continue to work. We plant on Friday, and the seeds germinate on Shabbat. During Shemittah, our fields make up for the lost Shabbats and festivals of the previous six years.
ReplyDeleteThere are fifty-two Shabbats in a solar calendar year. The total number of Shabbats over six years is 312. Seven festival days per year raise the total by another 42 (6 × 7) to 354, which is the precise number of days in the Shemittah, a lunar calendar year. Observing Shemittah for three hundred and fifty-four days, a full lunar calendar year, enables the field to “balance its accounts” and catch up with its owner in observing the full allotment of Shabbats over six years.
Chabad.org
The observance of shemitah has several dimensions. First, the shemitah year waives all debts between Jewish debtors and this is known as shemitat kesafim, or release of money. nowadays we have pruzbul wich circumvents the loan amnesty.
ReplyDeleteanother reason - the produce of the year of shemitah is for anyone to take - Shemitat Karka - release of the land
Also the year enabled Jews to collectively take a breather and focus on higher and more spiritual pursuits as the study halls and shuls were packed. it gives time to concentrate on our spiritual mission in life and less of our material pursuits.
Chabbad.org
Shabbat Shalom!
Shemitta is most commonly know for its agricultural aspects and benefit. However, we can compare the seventh year to the seventh day of the week- shabbat. This seventh year can be viewed as a year to relax, take a step back and immerse ourselves in the holiness and godliness of hashem. We can also take this idea one step further and say that the land itself contains a holiness that must be guarded and sanctified. Therefore we are expected and commanded to act according to particular standards so as not to defile the land. Israel is an inherently holy land that God chose specifically for the Jews. Everyone can at times get so caught up in what they are personally doing and the physical components to life that we forget all that God has provided for us. Taking a year to really appreciate and marvel in its amazingness gives it the proper respect and gratitude that it deserves and that Hashem deserves.
ReplyDeleteRav Yaakov Ariel states that Hashem implemented the rule of Shemittah to remind us that this is not our world, rather, it is Hashem's world and we live in it. Additionally, some of the restrictions during the Shemittah year include planting seeds, plowing the land and pruning.
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