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Beit Midrash
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Okay, fair enough. But I still don’t see why Shmita has to be the Mitzva that represents all the other Mitzvot. Why not choose kashrut, Shabbat, love the convert, etc? What is it exactly about Shmita that makes it so special?
The usual answer to this question is that observing Shmita requires a great deal of Emuna, faith. After all, doing without one’s field in an agricultural society & counting on Hashem to provide for up to three years requires a lot of faith. And so, by extension, performing any Mitzva is, essentially, an act of faith.
But there is a variation on this theme that I think goes to the core of Shmita’s salient significance. Shmita is illogical; it is anti-social, it goes against the norms of economic activity. How can people just walk away from their livelihood for a whole year? How can they stop producing foodstuffs that the nation needs? Can you imagine if the Torah commanded us to cease all hi-tech activity for 12 months? Or ordered the police, hospitals or sewage/sanitation workers to walk off the job for a year?
And when you factor in the opinion of many agronomists that letting the land go fallow every 7 years does nothing to enrich its nutrients, it seems even more absurd!
So I suggest there are 2 objectives at work here: First, treat the land (of Israel) as a living thing! Respect it, nurture it, appreciate it. And just as we have our Shabbat, it has its own, as well. The lesson, by extension, is that all the Torah is Torat Chayim, a living Torah.
Moreover, accept the fact that if humans had created the Torah, they never would have invented Shmita! Only Hashem could command such an extreme & seemingly absurd directive. But that is precisely the point: Do not follow the Torah because it makes perfect sense to you (like, for example, the 7 Noachide mitzvot); follow it purely because it is G-d’s will. Tho it may rub against our intellectual sensibilities & humble us to do things that confound us, that is how all of the Mitzvot must be approached & why Shmita is the Mitzva par excellence.
The sublimation of OUR mortal wisdom to that of G-d, our steadfast belief even in the face of disbelief, is perhaps what causes Hashem, in turn, to ALSO do things that are beyond belief - such as keeping the Jewish People alive forever, and allowing us to return to and reclaim our ancient homeland. It's illogical, absurd, against every norm of history, and it certainly confounds our enemies.
But guess what? It works - we are here!
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: Twin Foundations
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: The Goal of an Agricultural Yeshiva – part I
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the laying of the cornerstone of the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh)
Rabbis in Midrash
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P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Realtor’s Fee on Large Commercial Building – part I
(based on ruling 85031 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 85031 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: The Goal of an Agricultural Yeshiva – part I
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the laying of the cornerstone of the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh)
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the laying of the cornerstone of the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh)
Re'e NEVER EXTREME EXCEPT ISRAEL
Parshat Re'eh
Judaism is against extremism, so how can we understand the seemingly extreme statements found in our sages in favor of living in the Land of Israel and against living in Chutz laAretz? The article deals with the seeming contradiction between the strength of Free-Will and the strength of being influenced by our surroundings.
Ekev DANCE FOR ISRAEL- FOR YOUR BENEFIT
Parshat Eikev
Description: The 7 Haftarot we read after Tisha B'Av ("Shiva D'Nichemta") surely get us excited that they're coming TRUE, and awaken us to yearn, dance & join the return to Zion! The short article also deals with the problems and solutions facing the American Jewish community as discussed at a recent panel, as well as the question why Jews come from America to Israel to help when we face problems, but Israelis don't come to aid Jews in America when they face anti-Semitism.
P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Complaints about Contractor’s Work – part II
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: Twin Foundations
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
D'varim Judaism’s Social Vision
Re’eh
Giving is more than an act of generosity—it is an essential part of human dignity that belongs to everyone, rich and poor alike. The ultimate goal of help is to empower others to stand on their own.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 9 - "Seeing is Believing" (parag. 21-30)
These paragraphs elaborate on the theme that seeing and knowing is better than any attempt to prove logically, and begins explaining the difference between Israel and gentiles.
