Parshat Behar-Bechukotai: Going Against the Grain

BH

Good (erev) Shabbos to all wonderful readers!
This week’s parsha post should bring merit for a refuah sheleimah for Avraham ben Tzipporah.

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"V'achaltem yashan noshan v'yashan mip'nei chadash totziyu - You shall eat old grain long stored, and you shall clear out the old from before the new."  {Vayikra 26:10}

"Yashan noshan v'yashan mip'nei chadash"....  try saying that 3 times fast!  (Sorry if that was too corny...)  What exactly makes this pasuk a tongue-twister?  The repetitive lashon (language).  Today, we're going to look at a snippet of  commentary from the Chassidic Master the Mei haShiloah, on "yashan noshan", both terms having a similar connotation...  and discover the moral behind the words.

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"Yashan - aged", is likened to the Hebrew word yai'ush, which implies 'giving up'.  Why is this?  (The commentator will soon be likening people, to the grain discussed in our above pasuk.)  When someone "grows old", they may begin to give up  in some of life's pursuits, and in their emunah (belief) in Hashem, and trust in His blessings.  "Noshan - long stored", implies that the individual has totally spurned these beliefs and passions. 

This verse is a promise from Hashem to His Children, that even as our population increases in Eretz Yisrael, an already rather small parcel of land, it will nevertheless produce all the sustenance needed during the Shemittah year, the time of the land's rest.   These harvests will produce so abundantly, that we'll not only have plenty of grain leftover at the conclusion of the year, but we'll be benefitting from food from the year before that as well! 

Hashem promises a person blessing and benefit-- don't forsake it when you 'grow old'!  Even when one does make a choice, to disclaim Hashem's promises and blessings, Hashem amazingly still continues to bless him, and grant him advantages. 

All G-d does is for benefit.  Although we, as humans, cannot always personally discern such, we must never forget that every act of G-d is in His transcendent wisdom, and truly for the good. 

When one is 'fermenting' into the 'noshan' state, not just aged, but long stored, set in their way of disclaiming G-d's bounty and goodness, a person has to make a conscious choice to sincerely change their mindset.  When they improve their ways, and rather ignorant mentality, it is up to them to make a commitment not to reject Hashem's ratzon (will), and to follow in His ways, to the best of your ability, in all of your life.  When you truly commit to Hashem is this manner...  His great blessing and guidance for you is on its way!

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I recall an interesting quote I once heard:  "We don't stop having fun because we grow old;  indeed, we grow old because we stop having fun!"  Perhaps this concept is in some way applicable to what we just learned.

Stop for a moment, ask yourself honestly, and reflect:  Do I deeply and truly believe in Hashem's promise, that He is always watching over me, and that He is always blessing me? 

If not...  well then, it's time to break out of your husk, and really feel Hashem's blessings showering down upon you!

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For a little more light on the complex but wonderful concept of Yoshon, and how its halachos are applicable here and today, please check out this fine Q&A article on Chabad.org:

http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/584873/jewish/What-is-Yashan.htm

I would also like to spread the word about the passionate organization Keren Hashviis, which teaches Israeli farmers about, and encourages them in, and guides them through, the mitzvah of Shemittah.  Through them, you can also purchase a piece of land in Eretz Yisrael, and sponsor one of these hard-working farmers, and also take part in the incredible mitzvah!  To learn more about them, and what you can do, please visit their site at:

https://kerenhashviis.com/