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Shemitta at Har Sinai?

Rabbanit Sharon Rimon

ashem spoke to Faith in G-d is the root of all the mitz- we may neither sow nor gather in our
Moshe on Mount vot. Although each mitzvah possesses crops?’ I will ordain My blessing for
Sinai: Speak to the unique meaning, Shemitta is the apex you in the sixth year so that it shall
“Hpeople of Israel and of faith. Its laws convey belief in G-d yield a crop sufficient for three years”
say to them: ‘When you enter the land in the most significant way: the abil- (Vayikra 25:20–21).
that I assign to you, the land shall ity to trust in G-d and depend on Him While faith is critical to the Shemitta
observe a sabbath of Hashem’” (Vay- entirely for our existence. year, we do not rely on faith alone but
ikra 25:1–2). Generally, the Torah does not require instead prepare for Shemitta with six

Rashi famously asks Mah inyan Shem- us to refrain from working and to do years of hard work and preparation.
itta aytzel Har Sinai, “What special con- what is necessary to not only survive In general, G-d does not want us to
nection does Shemitta have to Mount but also thrive. On the contrary: We are abandon work and to regularly rely
Sinai?” Rashi offers a perplexing required to make every effort toward on miracles. Instead, we must balance
answer: “Just as the laws of Shemitta our livelihood. Man was created “to human effort with trust in G-d.
were given at Mount Sinai, so too all work and preserve” the land. The
of the mitzvot and their details were Torah repeatedly emphasizes the need
given at Sinai.” However, the question for physical labor to ensure the world’s
remains: Why was Shemitta chosen to continued existence. Even the laws of
teach this foundational principle of Shemitta begin with the need to work While faith is critical to the
the land throughout the first six years:
Jewish belief? Ostensibly, any mitzvah Shemitta year, we do not rely on
could have been selected to teach us “Six years you may sow your field and faith alone but instead prepare
six years you may prune your vineyard
that all of the mitzvot and their details and gather in the yield” (Vayikra 25:3).
were given to our people at Mount for Shemitta with six years of
Sinai. Similarly, when describing Shabbat, hard work and preparation.
the Torah first states: “Six days you
The Netivot Shalom explains: “The gen- shall labor and do all your work” At the same time, the faith that we
eral root of all the mitzvot is a matter (Shemot 20:9). The Rabbis explain that strengthen during the Shemitta year
of faith. Additionally, each mitzvah has for six days each week we must work is the proper basis for our hard work
something special and specific that no for our livelihood and the building up during the other six years. Those who
other mitzvah has… But the mitzvah of of the world, while on the seventh day allow the land to rest during Shemitta
Shemitta, which demands the highest we must rest and remember Hashem develop faith and confidence in G-d,
levels of faith, is special… This mitzvah Who sustains us. Similarly, for six knowing that the land and its fullness
requires a Jew to abandon his field – years we work the land and cultivate belong to our Father in Heaven.
the source of his livelihood – for an our bread, while in the seventh year
entire year, even though he does not we remember that the land belongs to
know where his food will come from. G-d and trust in Him to give us what
All this is only possible because of his we need. “And should you ask, ‘What Rabbanit Sharon Rimon teaches Tanach and
faith in Hashem…” are we to eat in the seventh year, if is Content Editor for the HaTanakh website.

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