Behar
Leviticus 25:1 - 26:2

Have you ever heard of someone taking a “sabbatical?”. You will often hear this term in the academic world. It refers to a leave of absence, often with pay, usually granted every seventh year, as to a college professor, for travel, research, or rest.  The phrase comes from this week’s Torah portion in Lev. 25. The chapter contains the law of Shemittah as it is called in Judaism (aramaic for Shabbat) and the year of Jubilee. 

According to the text, when the Jewish people arrived in the Promised Land they were to work for six years tilling the soil and then as the text says “the land shall have a Sabbath rest, a Sabbath to the Lord” (Lev. 25:4).  This is understood by the Sages in several ways. Some say it has nothing to do with the land - rather it is a Sabbath year for the people to study Torah. Others say that it reminds us that the law of nature is submissive to the law of God. Still others maintain that the law of Shemittah emphasizes that it is God who gives the land. 

The text is clear that the Sabbatical Year is for the land.  It reminds us that the land belongs to God. 'The land, moreover, shall not be sold permanently, for ^athe land is Mine; for ^byou are but aliens and sojourners with Me. (Lev. 25:23).  By giving the land a “Sabbath”, the text also teaches us that the land (as well as animals and servant) are to be taken care of by people because they not only belong to God but that God cares for their welfare. Back in the Garden of Eden, God commanded man to (lit.) serve it and guard it.  We serve the earth by cultivating it and helping it to fulfill its purpose. We “guard” it by protecting it from pollution and extinction.  Mankind is called to be stewards over the earth. Therefore, the law of the Sabbatical Year reminds us that because the land is his, we have a responsibility to preserve it.  There are other commands in Torah that teach us to protect the natural creation. For example, in Deuteronomy 20:19 there is a command not to cut down fruit trees in a time of war. This passage led the Sages to the principle called Bal Tashchit meaning “do not destroy”.  It refers to being careful not to waste things that can otherwise be preserved. It has led to an entire ecological Jewish ethic.  The issue of stewardship of the earth is reflected in the liturgical prayers of Judaism. Traditional blessings begin with :Blessed are you O Lord our God, King of the Universe who….(for food) brings forth bread from the earth…(for drink) creates the fruit of the vine…(for vegetables) creates the fruit of the earth…(upon seeing beautiful trees or animals) who has such as these in the world….(upon the sight of large bodies of water) who hast made the great sea.  There are blessings for almost every situation. These blessings acknowledge God as the creator of the universe and all that is in it.  The Talmud also has passages that deal with this issue. In the Talmud the idea is extended to include being careful with what we use and to be wise in our preservation of nature.  The gemara implies that it is wasteful to consume expensive foods when cheaper ones are just as good and, most importantly, just as healthy (Shabbat 140b). It is forbidden to tear the cloth of a garment to test someone's control of his anger if tearing the seams will serve the same purpose. (Kiddushin 32a.) It is forbidden to cut down a fruit tree for its wood if the tree is worth more for its fruit. (Bava Kamma 91b.). 

The Scriptures teach us that the day will come when the earth itself will be redeemed and nature will fulfill its calling. 'For there will be ^apeace for the seed: the vine will yield its fruit, the land will yield its produce and the heavens will give their ^bdew; and I will cause the remnant of this people to inherit ^call these things. (Zech. 8:12)

Here at Beth Messiah we are planting flowers today. Lets all do our part to be a good testimony and care for our property and grounds. Remember, The ^aearth is the LORD'S, and ¹all it contains, The ^bworld, and those who dwell in it….The heavens are ^athe heavens of the LORD, But ^bthe earth He has given to the sons of men. (Psalm 24:1 and Psalm 115:16)

Shabbat shalom