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.

**********************

"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.

*****************

"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!

*******************

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!

***********************

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/

Parshat Mishpatim: Ramban's Principles of 7

BH

Shabbat Shalom to all of my readers! 

(I hope that this week’s parsha-post should be a merit for a speedy refuah shleima for Sara Zucker, Dovid Monis ben Yehudis, and Yehonasan Laiv ben Yehudis, and may Hashem heal all the infirm of Klal Yisrael in the merit of Shabbos Kodesh!)

This week’s parsha is Mishpatim, in which the Torah teaches us most of the civil, social, and court laws the Chumash has to offer.

(Along with being the name of the parsha, Mishpatim is also the name for the category of mitzvos the parsha teaches us about– laws, that if Hashem hadn’t given them to us, we would have nevertheless developed by ourselves, since they are necessary for our interpersonal conduct.)

These dinim (laws) may appear to us at first sight as mundane, but they truly couldn’t be more of the opposite!  These laws dictate the path of the proper etiquette for a moral civilization, with Torah and G-dliness at its core!  Holiness is present in these basic matters of behavior, just as much as it is found in the most esoteric guides for how to cleave to G-d by meditation and study. 

The commentators of the Mishna teach us that one who doesn’t respect another’s belongings and boundaries (these are a few categories of laws which are in fact enumerated in the parsha), is as unlearned as a person who doesn’t study Torah, or keep the laws of kashrus!

Chazal tells us, that the close proximity in the Torah, of these laws in Mishpatim, and the great revelation  and Matan Torah in last week’s parsha, comes to teach that these social laws were transmitted at Har Sinai, just as the Aseret haDibrot were, and therefore maintain such a great and equating degree of kedusha.

So that is my first bit, corralled from different sources that I was privileged to have learned from this past week.

And now, please allow me to share a fascinating concept, about the Jewish servant:

The second pasuk in this week’s parsha, quite well-know, says:

“Ki tikneh eved ivri shaish shanim ya’avod uvashvi’is yatzai l’chafshi chinam – When you acquire a Hebrew servant, he shall serve for six years; in the seventh year he shall go free, without payment.”

“7” is a very auspicious number in the Jewish tradition.  In the 7th year, the eved ivri (Jewish servant) is released from his servitude.  To what is this applicable in our everyday lives?

The Ramban clearly answers:  Shabbos!

We are freed from our work and worry on the “7th day”, just as the servant is discharged in his 7th year.

Except, we merit this gift every week— what a bracha!

This law of the servant’s welfare is a remembrance of Yetzias Mitzrayim, no less!

Therefore, it connects to the first of the 10 Commandments:  “I am the Lord your G-d, who has taken you out of Eretz Mitzrayim, out of the house of bondage.”

The Ramban states ‘both are redeemed’– the Bnei Yisroel out of enslavement, and the exoneration of the servant from his master’s hand.

Another hallowed 7:  The 7-year cycle, completed with Shemittah.  ‘Freedom’ of the earth, in order for us to acknowledge Hashem as the Sole Owner of it all, and our True Redeemer.

The Ramban has established that all of these ‘principles of  7’, are one concept, since the beginning of the world.

Perhaps the Ramban is mysteriously alluding to the 7 days of Creation, concluding with the first Shabbos?!

“Therefore, this ordinance of the bondsman’s servitude, is so esteemed,” the Ramban continues, “it’s fitting for it to take the lead as the first mitzvah transmitted in Mishpatim!

And may we merit the Ultimate Freedom, speedily in our days!

(This Parsha-post was shared to my original blog, on Feb. 24, 2017.)