Why does God command us to do shmitah? What's the reason behind it? Does it work? Rabbi Meir Simcha of Dvinsk says that God wants us to appreciate the land and enjoy the goodness of it and realize that He is responsible for the benefit we have.
Dr. Jeremy Bernstein of the Israeli Sustainability Foundation calls the concept of shmitta "revolutionary." Even though the actual practicality of a full observance of shmitta is unlikely, might not be successful, the idea that a country emphasizes social justice, agricultural and food justice, and respect for the land over economic growth and opportunity is unprecedented. He says that shmitta is the Torah's, "political statement of social and environmental import, raising deep questions about the nature of a healthy and sustainable life -- for individuals, society, and the land." And all of this, even if it means sacrificing commerce and industry. We do not necessarily have to implement shmitta to "reap" its benefits.
Rashi explains in his commentary that shmitah is meant to communicate an important lesson to בני ישראל. The Navi says, “Hashem says, ‘Cursed is the person that relies on man and depends on flesh. And his heart leaves Hashem.’' Rashi elaborates and says that the cursed person is one who cultivates the land during the shmitah year. This person does not have sufficient emunah in Hashem and believes he needs to work in order to sustain his crop. Hashem commanded us not to work during Shmitah and promises to bless our land the seventh year. The person who cultivates the land has chosen to rely on human endeavors rather than the Hashem's blessing. Shmitah is evidence of בני ישאל's faith in Hashem
Nigel Savage, the founder and executive director of Hazon, a nonprofit that focuses on a Jewish approach to food, environment and sustainability. He describes Shmita by stating the following, "It’s a series of obscure, ancient concepts about how we relate to land, to food, about inequality in our community, the nature of work and rest in our lives, our relationship to debt. Those issues are central to our lives today in 2014.” His organizations has encouraged Jewish institutions and individuals to bring in the shmita year with local farm tours, wild food walks, crop swaps and community feasts, among other suggestions. I think this is a facinating way to relate a biblical idea and thing that was done during the time of the Torah to today! It is even known that keeping the Shmita year actually helps crops, and allows a community to come together.
The primary characteristic of the Sabbatical year was leaving the fields and vineyards uncultivated. Some scholars have suggested that the Israelites were practicing an early form of soil conservation; modern farmers often leave fields uncultivated or practice crop rotation in order to restore nutrients to the soil. A second lesson of the Sabbatical year is derived from the fact that during this time all people, whether rich or poor, had to collect and gather food in the same manner; all were dependent upon what the land would produce naturally. This experience would sensitize the well-to-do to the conditions the poor always faced and motivate them to help support the needy.
Rabbi Jonathan Shribber explains that Hashem commanded us as Jews to engage in the practice of shmita as a system of biblical charity without the embarassment the poor recieve when they are forced to beg for food. We leave a section of our fields for the poor as it is pronounced as Hefker or ownerless. We also do shmita every seven years since the number seven has religious significance since we work the field for 6 years and rest on the seventh-- parallel to working during the week and resting on shabbos. Shmita is an important part of our Jewish identity as we use it to help others in addition to ourselves prosper.
The Gemara states that the reason Hashem commanded us to do shmita is for us to realize the land does not belong to us but it belongs to Hashem. The Sefer Hachinuch adds that it is for Bnei yisroel to realize and understand that the land does not only produce crops because of the farmer but it is because of Hashem.
R' Yisroel Cotlar from Chabad.org brings down that one of the purposes of Shmitah is to create equality in the nation. By not allowing those who have money and healthy crops to farm, it puts them on an equal level with those who might not have such luxuries. This also ties into the letting go of debts - it refocuses the nation and takes away a lot of the physicality allowing them to focus on G-d and eachother.
Dr. Jeremy Bernstein of the Israeli Sustainability Foundation calls the concept of shmitta "revolutionary." Even though the actual practicality of a full observance of shmitta is unlikely, might not be successful, the idea that a country emphasizes social justice, agricultural and food justice, and respect for the land over economic growth and opportunity is unprecedented. He says that shmitta is the Torah's, "political statement of social and environmental import, raising deep questions about the nature of a healthy and sustainable life -- for individuals, society, and the land." And all of this, even if it means sacrificing commerce and industry. We do not necessarily have to implement shmitta to "reap" its benefits.
ReplyDeleteRashi explains in his commentary that shmitah is meant to communicate an important lesson to בני ישראל. The Navi says, “Hashem says, ‘Cursed is the person that relies on man and depends on flesh. And his heart leaves Hashem.’' Rashi elaborates and says that the cursed person is one who cultivates the land during the shmitah year. This person does not have sufficient emunah in Hashem and believes he needs to work in order to sustain his crop. Hashem commanded us not to work during Shmitah and promises to bless our land the seventh year. The person who cultivates the land has chosen to rely on human endeavors rather than the Hashem's blessing. Shmitah is evidence of בני ישאל's faith in Hashem
ReplyDeleteNigel Savage, the founder and executive director of Hazon, a nonprofit that focuses on a Jewish approach to food, environment and sustainability. He describes Shmita by stating the following, "It’s a series of obscure, ancient concepts about how we relate to land, to food, about inequality in our community, the nature of work and rest in our lives, our relationship to debt. Those issues are central to our lives today in 2014.” His organizations has encouraged Jewish institutions and individuals to bring in the shmita year with local farm tours, wild food walks, crop swaps and community feasts, among other suggestions. I think this is a facinating way to relate a biblical idea and thing that was done during the time of the Torah to today! It is even known that keeping the Shmita year actually helps crops, and allows a community to come together.
ReplyDeleteThe primary characteristic of the Sabbatical year was leaving the fields and vineyards uncultivated. Some scholars have suggested that the Israelites were practicing an early form of soil conservation; modern farmers often leave fields uncultivated or practice crop rotation in order to restore nutrients to the soil. A second lesson of the Sabbatical year is derived from the fact that during this time all people, whether rich or poor, had to collect and gather food in the same manner; all were dependent upon what the land would produce naturally. This experience would sensitize the well-to-do to the conditions the poor always faced and motivate them to help support the needy.
ReplyDeleteRabbi Jonathan Shribber explains that Hashem commanded us as Jews to engage in the practice of shmita as a system of biblical charity without the embarassment the poor recieve when they are forced to beg for food. We leave a section of our fields for the poor as it is pronounced as Hefker or ownerless. We also do shmita every seven years since the number seven has religious significance since we work the field for 6 years and rest on the seventh-- parallel to working during the week and resting on shabbos. Shmita is an important part of our Jewish identity as we use it to help others in addition to ourselves prosper.
ReplyDeleteThe Gemara states that the reason Hashem commanded us to do shmita is for us to realize the land does not belong to us but it belongs to Hashem. The Sefer Hachinuch adds that it is for Bnei yisroel to realize and understand that the land does not only produce crops because of the farmer but it is because of Hashem.
ReplyDeleteR' Yisroel Cotlar from Chabad.org brings down that one of the purposes of Shmitah is to create equality in the nation. By not allowing those who have money and healthy crops to farm, it puts them on an equal level with those who might not have such luxuries. This also ties into the letting go of debts - it refocuses the nation and takes away a lot of the physicality allowing them to focus on G-d and eachother.
ReplyDelete