This week’s perashioth are titled Behar–Beḥuqqothai—“On the Mountain [Sinai].” In these chapters, Aḏonay—praised be His Name—establishes the laws of the shemitah (sabbatical year) and the yobel (jubilee year). Upon examining these passages, it becomes clear that the privilege of dwelling in the Land depends on the observance of these two commandments:
“Perform My statutes and guard My ordinances and carry them out, and you shall dwell in the Land securely” (Wayyiqra’ 25:18).
In Sefer Yirmeyahu, Aḏonay—blessed be He—says:
“At the end of seven years, each person must set free his Hebrew brother who was sold to him; he shall serve six years, and then be sent free. But your fathers did not listen to Me, nor incline their ear… Therefore, thus says Aḏonay: You have not listened to Me to proclaim liberty, each one to his brother and companion. Behold, I proclaim liberty for you—says Aḏonay—to the sword, to pestilence, and to famine. And I shall make you a horror among all the kingdoms of the earth” (Yirmeyahu 34:14–17).
This was the sin of our ancestors in the Land. As a result, they were expelled and taken into exile in Bavel. Our exile began more than 2,500 years ago. The Hebrew people have spent more time outside the Land than within it. We have wandered through many lands and nations, often under oppressive rule. Even in Ereṣ Yisrael, we were persecuted—such as under Roman domination.
In the Talmud Bavli, we find that Rabbi Zera avoided meeting Rabbi Yehudah. Rabbi Zera wished to ascend to the Land of Yisrael, but Rabbi Yehudah held:
“Whoever ascends from Bavel to the Land of Yisrael transgresses a positive commandment” (Ketubbot 110b–111a).
From here, we learn that there is no obligation to live in the Land under foreign rule. Thus the verse says: “You shall dwell in the Land securely”—meaning, as a sovereign nation.
Just as observing Shabbath is an act of emunah (faith), so too is observing the sabbatical year every seventh year. Heaven promises abundance until the ninth year of the cycle. Moreover, the children of Yisrael are servants of the Blessed God—it is therefore not permitted for one Yisra’eli to be enslaved to another for more than six years. To reinforce this principle, we are commanded to release Hebrew servants in both the seventh and fiftieth years.
In Perashath Mishpaṭim, we learned:
- It is forbidden for a master to assign degrading tasks to a servant, such as washing his feet.
- If the servant had a profession or trade before entering service, it is forbidden to assign them unfamiliar work.
- The master must share his food with the servant and give him the best available portion.
There is a direct link between the redemption (ge’ulah) of the land in the jubilee year and the final redemption. The Torah uses the word ge’ulah to refer to the land’s release in yobel. And if we are the servants of the living God, how much more is He obligated to care for us?
Three times a day, we pray:
“Sound the great shofar for our liberation, and gather us from exile to our Land.”
The Sages teach that this shofar (Yeshayahu 27) will be sounded by Mashiaḥ Ṣidqenu. All Yisrael will hear his voice. The spirit of prophecy will rest upon him, and he will assign each man his tribal inheritance.
May it be the will of Aḏonay our God to grant us a portion in the final ge’ulah.