Shabbat Table Topics – Parashat Reeh/0/en

Shabbat Table Topics – Parashat Reeh

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The Purpose of Shemittah

What is the purpose of the Shemittah year? While Ramban focuses on how Shemittah facilitates spiritual growth and recognition of Hashem, Shadalemphasizes how it inculcates social equality and concern for the less fortunate. Rambam offers a third option, suggesting that Shemittah serves a practical function in maintaining the fertility of the land.

• Is it possible that certain commandments were instituted only for utilitarian purposes? What other mitzvot have been given such an explanation?¹
• Does the Torah promote capitalism or socialism? What do the laws of Shemittah suggest?²
• How are Shemittah and Shabbat similar? What benefits are gained from an enforced resting and refraining from work?

¹ For one example, see Ralbag on Tzara'at.

² Ze'ev Jabotinsky notes that the seven year Shemittah cycle and the Jubilee year combine elements of both capitalism and socialism, allowing for checks and balances between the two systems. For six years, a free market economy allows for growth and competition, while the seventh year is designed to mitigate the pitfalls of such a system and reduce the gaps between the different strata of society.