Recap for 24 Lyyar 5777 (Parsha Behar and Bechukotai)

This Shabbos we discussed Parsha Behar and Parsha Bechukotai, including commentary from Rav Yeager. This Shabbos we were honored to have with us, Rabbi Noff, from Baltimore, who lived in Memphis at one time and worked closely with Rabbi Efraim Greenblatt. This Shabbos we heard Dvar Torah from both Rabbi Males and Rabbi Noff.  David Schlesinger led discussion.

Rav Males spoke about how the number 7 comes up a lot, both in this week’s parsha with respect to the 7th year for the land, known as the Sabbatical year, and with many of our holidays including Pesach, Sukkot, and others that last 7 exactly days. Another example of the number 7 coming up, is what we are currently in the process of doing - the counting of the Omer, which will last a total of exactly 7 weeks of 7 days.  Also, what is known as the Jubilee year, discussed below, is determined by counting 7 times 7 years.  

In his talk, Rav Males brought up the interesting thought that a great teacher would not tell his students why the number 7 comes up a lot, but bring up the topic to inspire the students to continue learning about this on their own. The answer as to why 7 comes up a lot may be something that Rob has pointed out, that this is simply just the way Hashem wants it to be and there is no specific reason. But maybe Rav Males, and these notes, will inspire some of us to look into this further!

Rabbi Nuff spoke at our Kiddush about the great importance of Shabbos. We have discussed that if we refrain from work on Shabbos, and observe Shabbos, it may seem that our economic opportunities will decrease and this will affect our ability to earn a living. However, as stories that we heard from both Rabbi Nuff, and Dave W, point out, if we observe the Shabbos and/or do other mitzvah, Hashem will take care of us. Both Rabbi Nuff and Dave W told stories about how they were able to carry out very unexpected, but highly valuable business transactions, which from all indications were the results of doing our part to observe Shabbos and/or doing mitzvah.  We did our part, and Hashem did his part which is to play a great, positive role in our lives.

This Shabbos we discussed from Rav Yeager this idea of the 7th Sabbatical year. The years are counted, and during the 7th year, the agricultural lands are allowed to rest. During this year no attempt is to be made to harvest produce. If any produce happens to grow, it becomes available to everyone, not just the land owner. After 7 cycles of 7 years, there is a 50th year, known as the Jubilee year. On the Jubilee year, the land reverts back to its original owners, and all slaves are set free. 

We discussed how by allowing the land to have a Sabbatical year, we acknowledge that Hashem is the ultimate owner of everything, including agricultural lands. By observing the Sabbatical year, we demonstrate our awareness that everything will eventually revert back to Hashem.

We discussed how today, there is disagreement on when the Jubilee year occurs, so that we blow the shofar on every Yom Kippur in honor of the Jubilee year. We discussed that one of the disagreements is whether or not the 50th year also counts as the 1rst year of another 7 year cycle.

We discussed this Shabbos the great desirability to own land in Israel. It is desirable to try to buy any land in Israel, from non-Jews. Once we own land in Israel, we should try not sell it unless absolutely necessary. When all Jews own land in Israel, this is a representation of  everyone returning to our homeland, and is an important step in bringing the world to a state that Hashem wants us to strive for. If we do have to sell our land in Israel, we should strive to get it back.

We discussed this Shabbos how at one time we had a desirable world, which we are striving to return to today. Although the world today is not desirable, Hashem has set up today's world to be the most perfect world, given the decisions man has made, such as the decision by Adam to eat from the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden. There is a difference between a desirable world, and a perfect world.

After Adam made his decision to eat from the forbidden tree, conditions changed for mankind, and for animals, who became very wild, and stopped acting according to moral principles. We discussed that there is a difference between a desirable world that will be here when Magiah comes, and a perfect world which is perfect when it includes the undesirable situations we see today, because this gives us an opportunity to have the purpose of rectifying the undesirable situations, and having a virtuous response to suffering, which is an idea that comes from David's father, Rav Dr George N Schlesinger.

We discussed how each time in history that we were in an undesirable situation, and we became redeemed, there were forces trying to return us to the undesirable situation, and Hashem had to intervene with miracles. There are 3 situations we discussed. The first situation was our slavery in Egypt. We were of course redeemed from Egypt, but then Pharaoh changed his mind and wanted us back. Hashem had to intervene and perform the miracle of the splitting of the Red Sea which saved us. In the second situation, we were redeemed by the Persians who decided to allow us to build our Temple. And just like with Pharaoh, the Persians changed their mind. Eventually Hashem saved us by performing the miracle of Purim. The 3rd situation is going on to this day. We were given the land of Israel, by the world, back in 1948. But today it seems that much of the world may have changed their mind when they ask Israel to make sacrifices no other nation would be expected to make, especially nations surrounded by enemies. Like the first 2 situations, Hashem will help Israel, however we must do our part.  Our part is to follow his Torah, do mitzvah, and most noteably make an effort to support Israel.  Going to Israel, helping and supporting Israel are all very big mitzvahs, and will lead to Hashem doing his part as well.

This is a summary of what we discussed.  No halachic rulings are intended or should be inferred.