Parshi’ot Behar-Bechukotai
By Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort
CARLSBAD, California — This week we are again treated to a double portion, Behar-Bechukotai, which translate as “On the Mountain (Sinai),” and, “In My Statutes”.
The first portion goes into great detail concerning the Mitzvot of Shmittah / the Sabbatical year and Yovel / the Jubilee year. Every seven years the fields in Israel must lie fallow. Farmers are ‘freed’ from working the land and even the beasts of burden are allowed to rest. The land itself rests and its nutrients are allowed to be naturally replenished.
Imagine the incredible faith displayed by the people in allowing a full year’s produce to be treated as though it is ownerless, allowing anyone and everyone to ‘help themselves.’ In a practical sense we see that the crop of the sixth year had to suffice for the sixth year’s needs, the seventh year’s needs, and even part of the eighth year’s needs (until the produce of the eighth year could be harvested). G-d promises that He would command His blessing upon the fields to the extent that there would be enough for all three years.
We can also marvel at the tremendous generosity commanded by the Almighty in instructing the farmers to forgo their income of the seventh year. In our day and age special funds have been established to support those farmers in Israel that undertake the observance of the Sabbatical year, so that they should be able to materially sustain their families as their fields remain fallow.
Meanwhile the farmers, who were freed from the usual mode of making a living spent their newly found ‘free time’ in Torah study. Typically very few have the luxury of time to dedicate to deep Torah study. The farmers were anxious and enthusiastic about their opportunity to focus on the Source of their blessings. It’s nice when a farmer can metaphorically focus his attention upwards – at the heavens – instead of downwards – at the ground.
Obviously this approach replenished the farmer’s spiritual nutrients just as the ground’s physical nutrients were renewed. And this spiritual rejuvenation parallels Shabbos, something we all enjoy on a weekly basis, albeit on a smaller scale. Shabbos observance is so very refreshing and invigorating! Woe is to the person who misses the true Shabbos experience!
The second portion, Bechukotai, means “In My Statutes.” The portion begins by stating the promise made by G-d that if we will “Go in My statutes” we will receive all manner of blessing in the material world. This is extraordinary! It is telling us that our spiritual pursuits have ‘real world’ consequences. A ‘jump’ from the spiritual world to the material world or vice versa is not something we often consider, to our own loss. From this portion we see clearly that there is indeed a connection.
The latter part of the portion discusses the laws of assessing values when one has made pledges to the Holy Temple. These laws are extremely detailed.
The great classical commentator Rashi discuss the connection of these two portions. After all, the fact that they are often read together demonstrates that they share a theme. He explains that just like G-d gave the general commandments on Sinai so too He gave all of the details of those commandments on Sinai. We shouldn’t think that the Creator gave all of these commandments in general and left it to us to fulfill them how we want. Rather the Almighty had very specific intentions in giving us the divine commandments.
The world sometimes says, “The devil is in the details.” Well, we Jews say that actually, “The G-dliness is in the details!”
Wishing everyone an uplifting, joyous, and HEALTHY Shabbos!
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Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort is Director of Coastal Chabads and Chabad at La Costa. Rabbi Eilfort welcomes readers’ comments and questions and may be reached at RabbiE@ChabadatLaCosta.com.