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TU BISHVAT READING

Mrs. Michal Horowitz
Mrs. Michal Horowitz

MITZVOT HATLUYOT BAARETZ SHMITTA
Th­ Gƒ a Equalize–

he Torah tells us that when we of Matan Torah given to us on Har Rav Chaim said, “Now let me hear
come to the Land, “for six years Sinai? what the field has to say.” As Reuven
Twe may work the fields and In the open vastness of the Wilder- and Shimon looked on in astonish-
gather the crops, and on the seventh ness of Sinai, at the foothills of one ment, Rav Chaim Volozhin bent down
year, a complete rest there shall be for small mountain, on land in no man’s and put his ear near the ground to
the Land, a Shabbat for G-d” (Vayikra land, G-d betrothed Knesset Yisrael listen! When he stood up, Shimon
25:2-5). and gave us the Torah. For just as the was smiling and asked, “Nu, so what
What of the produce that grows nat- Land ultimately belongs to all, so too, does the ground have to say?”
urally, on its own, during the seventh does the Torah belong to us all. With a serious look, Rav Chaim
shmitta year? Rashi explains that As we stood there, at the foothills of replied, “The ground said, ‘This one
although working the Land is forbid- Har Sinai, on the cusp of spiritual claims that I belong to him for this
den during this year, we are permit- freedom, ready to accept the Torah, reason, and that one claims that I
ted to eat from the fruits of the Land G-d charged us with the task to be a belong to him for that reason. The
that grow on their own. However, one holy nation to Him, to be a kingdom truth is, in no time at all, they will
may not act as the landowner (of the of priests, and to always remember both belong to me!’”
land that is “his” during the other six that the whole earth is His. Lest we forget Who is in charge, it
years), rather, all should be equal, and behooves us to step back, and, as the
have equal rights, to the produce of For six days – and for six years – we prophet tells us, “Lift your eyes to the
the seventh year. may work the Land, till and sow the heavens and see Who created this”
Land, plant and harvest the Land… (Yeshayahu 40:26).
The bounty of the Land during But on the seventh day, and in the
the seventh year is ownerless, and seventh year, we take a step back and For the beloved, unique, and Holy
belongs to the landowner (who is remember: None of this is mine – it Land that is His, we give thanks;
not the landowner this year) and his is all a Shabbat laHashem (Vayikra for the cooling, life-giving waters of
workers, to animals, other citizens, 25:2,4). Torah that is His, we give thanks;
paupers, and any who may desire to Reuven and Shimon came to Rav and for our very lives, and the bounty
take from the fruits. In essence, the Chaim Volozhin (1749-1821) arguing within and all around us, for all of
this, we give thanks upon thanks.
shmitta year reminds us that there is over a piece of property each claimed
truly only One Owner, One Master, belonged to them. After listening to
One Provider, and One Sustainer. both sides present their cases, Rav

“The land and its fullness are G-d’s; Chaim said, “Come, let us go to the
the world and those who dwell field. I would like to see for myself the
therein” (Tehillim 24:1). For six years, actual property in question to better
man lives with the illusion that he understand your arguments.”
is the owner and provider. Then he Reuven and Shimon were puzzled.
comes to the shmitta year – and his What would looking at the property
illusions are shattered, his pride is help, they wondered. Once there, Rav
diminished, as he abruptly remem- Chaim said, “Ok, Reuven, let me hear
bers that his land is not really his. For what you have to say.” Reuven re-told
G-d is the Owner and Provider, and his side of the story. Rav Chaim then
now those very fields belong to man, turned to Shimon and asked him to
animal, servant, maidservant, rich present his side of the story. After Mrs. Michal Horowitz teaches Judaic
and poor alike. Isn’t that the message they had both presented their cases, Studies classes to adults of all ages.

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