When you Choose Shabbat, you choose to learn that every Shabbat is different and special. This week I learned about Parashat Behar (בְּהַר), the 32nd weekly Torah portion in the annual cycle of Torah readings.
According to Wikipedia, Behar (בְּהַר), Leviticus 25:1 through 26:2, contains 2,817 Hebrew letters, 737 words, 57 verses and makes up 99 lines of the Torah scroll, making it the shortest Torah reading in the Book of Leviticus. Behar deals with the laws of the Sabbatical year (שמיטה, Shmita) and limits on debt servitude.
Rabbi Michael D Klein of Temple Torat Emet offers his insights on this week’s Torah reading, Behar for Shabbat, May 25, 2024 aka 17 Iyar 5784:
“So important are the ideas contained in this small Sedra, that it begins with the preamble that the laws contained herein were ordained by G-d at Sinai. What are the Laws?
1. The Law of Shmita: the concept that in the seventh year the Land of Israel is allowed to rest and lie fallow. A person who owns a parcel of land becomes attached to it. He or she toils on the land to make it productive and earn a living from it. Yet, he or she must relinquish this dependency in the seventh year. This is an ultimate test of faith and belief in Hashem. It demonstrates that, even though we have a legal title, Hashem owns the Land of Israel and this is further emphasized by the release of debts, the release of slaves and the return of all rented land to its original owner.
2. Proclamation of Freedom throughout the land and all its inhabitants (Ch25 V10): This proclamation of the Yovel with its Shofar blasts, underscores the statement from Mishna Kiddushin that “ he who purchases a slave is himself a slave”. One must respect the rights of others and not encroach upon their freedom. One who attempts to control others reflects his own negative self-image. It is truly sad that some individuals can only maintain their self-esteem by subjecting the poor and powerless to their own whims. This is why the words “if you brother become poor” are repeated in the Torah portion so many times.
3. Establishment of Cities of Refuge: This essential component of the Torah system of justice assures that those who commit unintentional murder may be rehabilitated in cities surrounded by mercy and peace, forgiveness and sympathy unlike the current penal system found in most countries today with their harsh brutality and evil.
Thus, the Sedra teaches us that true freedom is only effected when all are free and the dignity of all is respected by all, and the underprivileged are not disdained or violated. It also teaches us that the Land of Israel is sacred as long as we respect its sanctity, our relationship to Hakadosh Baruch Hu is upheld and maintained.
Questions to Consider:
- Why is the Yovel begun with Shofar blasts?
- How many cities of refuge were there?
- How and why did this change at the end of the Torah?
- Who were the leaders of the Cities of Refuge and why were they chosen to rehabilitate criminals?”
Rabbi Michael D. Klein attended Yeshiva College of South Florida and served as Torah Reader, Hebrew teacher, Chazzan and spiritual leader of various synagogues throughout South Florida. In January 2015 he became Ritual Director, Bnai/Bnot Mitzvah instructor and 7th grade Hebrew instructor for Temple Torat Emet of Boynton Beach. In October 2019 he was accepted into an accelerated track and received his shicha from Yeshiva Adath Wolkowisk and has been the Rabbinic leadership of Temple Torat Emet since August 2020. In September of 2022 he was appointed Rabbinic and Spiritual Advisor of the Florida Region of FJMC.
Choose Shabbat; choose to celebrate, to light candles, sing songs and learn a little Torah.
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