Parashat Behar-Bechukotai 5785

by Rabbi Margie Cella

This week’s double parashah concludes the book of Leviticus.

It begins with a description of the shemitah year, which is literally a sabbath year for the land: every seventh year, the land must be allowed to rest, and nothing is to be harvested. Additionally, at the end of seven cycles of seven years, every fiftieth year is declared a jubilee: all slaves or indentured servants are set free and returned to their families, and land and possessions which were previously sold revert to their original owners.

We are enjoined to help those who fall into poverty, giving them assistance as needed, but not charging any interest. In other words, we may not profit from the misfortune of another, be they family members or strangers. One who becomes destitute may enter your house as a hired servant to support his family. However, he only works until the jubilee year, when he must go free. We are all God’s servants, equal in God’s eyes, regardless of our social status.

We read of the many blessings we will receive when we observe God’s commandments, as well as the curses we will receive when we do not.

One verse (26:6) is familiar to us from the Prayer for Peace from the siddur: “I will give peace in the land, and you shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid. I will rid the land of vicious beasts, and it shall not be ravaged by war.” A few verses later (26:12) God promises, “I will walk among you, and will be your God, and you shall be my people.”

May these promises be fulfilled soon for our beloved Eretz Israel.

Am Yisrael Chai! All people of Israel Live!