<p>The commandments of the Torah provide guidelines governing man's relationships with Hashem, other people, and the world as a whole.  In some cases, the reason for a particular mitzvah appears abundantly clear, while in others it is more complex.  The institution of the Sabbatical Year ("שְׁנַת הַשֶּׁבַע שְׁנַת הַשְּׁמִטָּה") is a case in point.</p>
+
<p>The commandments of the Torah provide guidelines governing man's relationships with Hashem, other people, and the world as a whole.  In some cases, the reason for a particular mitzvah appears abundantly clear, while in others it is more complex.  "שְׁנַת הַשֶּׁבַע שְׁנַת הַשְּׁמִטָּה" היא דוגמה טובה לכך למצווה מורכבת.</p>
−
<p>The passages describing the laws of Shemittah in both <a href="Shemot23-9-12" data-aht="source">Shemot</a> and <a href="Devarim15-1-11" data-aht="source">Devarim</a> focus on its aid to the poor:</p>
+
<p>The passages describing the laws of Shemittah in both <a href="Shemot23-9-12" data-aht="source">שמות</a> ו<a href="Devarim15-1-11" data-aht="source">דברים</a> focus on its aid to the poor:</p>
<q xml:lang="en" style="margin-bottom:.3em;">And in the seventh, you shall let it rest and lie fallow, and the <b>needy of your people</b> may eat, and what they leave let the wild beasts eat; you shall do the same with your vineyard and your olive grove. (Shemot 23:11)</q><q xml:lang="en">For the needy will never be gone from amidst the land, therefore I command you, saying: "Open your hand <b>to your brother, to your poor and to your needy</b> in your land". (Devarim 15:11)</q>
<p>In contrast, <a href="Vayikra25-1-12" data-aht="source">ויקרא כ"ה</a> makes no mention of the poor and describes only how the Sabbatical Year is for Hashem, the people (in general), and the land:</p>
+
<p>לעומת זאת, <a href="Vayikra25-1-12" data-aht="source">ויקרא כ"ה</a> makes no mention of the poor and describes only how the Sabbatical Year is for Hashem, the people (in general), and the land:</p>
<q xml:lang="en">(2) Speak to the Children of Israel and say to them, when you enter the land that I am giving you, the land shall observe a <b>Shabbat to Hashem</b>. (3) Six years you are to sow your field, and six years you are to prune your vineyard, and gather its produce.  (4) And in the seventh year there shall be a <b>Shabbat Shabbaton for the land, a Shabbat to Hashem</b>, you shall not sow your field and prune your vineyard.  (5) The aftergrowth of your harvest you are not to harvest, and the grapes of your consecrated vines you are not to amass, <b>a year of rest shall be for the land.</b>  (6) And the <b>Shabbat of the land shall be for you</b> for eating, for you, and for your servant, and for your handmaid, and for your employee, and for your resident settler who live with you.</q>
+
</q>
−
</multilang>
<p>What is the relationship between these differing portraits?</p>
<p>What is the relationship between these differing portraits?</p>
−
<h2>Shemittah and Exile</h2>
+
<h2>שמיטה וגלות</h2>
−
<p>The importance of the observance of Shemittah is highlighted in <a href="Vayikra26-27-46" data-aht="source">ויקרא כ"ו</a>, where it is singled out in the blessings and curses as the root cause of the nation's ultimate exile:<fn>In fact, according to <multilink><a href="RashbamVayikra26-46" data-aht="source">רשב"ם</a><a href="RashbamVayikra11-3" data-aht="source">ויקרא י"א:ג'</a><a href="RashbamVayikra26-46" data-aht="source">ויקרא כ"ו:מ"ו</a><a href="R. Shemuel b. Meir (Rashbam)" data-aht="parshan">אודות ר' שמואל בן מאיר</a></multilink>, the blessings and curses come exclusively for the observance (or lack of observance) of Shemittah and Yovel.  For elaboration, see <a href="Blessings and Curses – Over Which Commandments" data-aht="page">ברכות וקללות – על איזו מצוות?</a>.</fn></p>
+
<p>The importance of the observance of Shemittah is highlighted in <a href="Vayikra26-27-46" data-aht="source">ויקרא כ"ו</a>, where it is singled out in the blessings and curses as the root cause of the nation's ultimate exile:<fn>אכן, לפי <multilink><a href="RashbamVayikra26-46" data-aht="source">רשב"ם</a><a href="RashbamVayikra11-3" data-aht="source">ויקרא י"א:ג'</a><a href="RashbamVayikra26-46" data-aht="source">ויקרא כ"ו:מ"ו</a><a href="R. Shemuel b. Meir (Rashbam)" data-aht="parshan">אודות ר' שמואל בן מאיר</a></multilink>, הברכות והקללות מגיעות אך ורק לקיום (או חוסר שמירה) של מצוות שמיטה ויובל. להרחבה, ראו <a href="Blessings and Curses – Over Which Commandments" data-aht="page">ברכות וקללות – על איזו מצוות?</a>.</fn></p>
<p>Indeed, the final chapter of <a href="DivreiHaYamimII36-20-21" data-aht="source">Divrei HaYamim</a> records the unfortunate fulfillment of this striking admonition:</p>
+
<p>אכן, הפרק האחרון של <a href="DivreiHaYamimII36-20-21" data-aht="source">דברי הימים</a> records the unfortunate fulfillment of this striking admonition:</p>
<p>But of all of the Torah's cardinal prescriptions,<fn>One might have expected that the Torah would attribute the exile to the violations of the prohibitions against idolatry or murder which are amply attested in the book of Melakhim and specified as the reason for the destruction of the Beit HaMikdash in <multilink><a href="BavliYoma9b" data-aht="source">Bavli Yoma 9b</a><a href="BavliYoma9b" data-aht="source">יומא ט':</a><a href="Talmud Bavli" data-aht="parshan">אודות הבבלי</a></multilink>.</fn> why is the violation of Shemittah viewed with such severity and why does it have such enormous consequences?</p>
+
<p>But of all of the Torah's cardinal prescriptions,<fn>ניתן היה לצפות שהתורה תייחס את הגלות לעבירות של עבודה זרה או רצח המתועדות בקביעות בספר מלכים ומצוינות כסיבה לחורבן בית המקדש ב<multilink><a href="BavliYoma9b" data-aht="source">בבלי יומא</a><a href="BavliYoma9b" data-aht="source">יומא ט׳:</a><a href="Talmud Bavli" data-aht="parshan">אודות הבבלי</a></multilink>.</fn> why is the violation of Shemittah viewed with such severity and why does it have such enormous consequences?</p>
<notes>
<notes>
−
To explore how commentators throughout the generations have understood the character and significance of the mitzvah of Shemittah, proceed to <a href="2" data-aht="subpage">גישות פרשניות</a>.
+
To explore how commentators throughout the generations have understood the character and significance of the mitzvah of Shemittah, המשיכו ל<a href="2" data-aht="subpage">גישות פרשניות</a>.
The commandments of the Torah provide guidelines governing man's relationships with Hashem, other people, and the world as a whole. In some cases, the reason for a particular mitzvah appears abundantly clear, while in others it is more complex. "שְׁנַת הַשֶּׁבַע שְׁנַת הַשְּׁמִטָּה" היא דוגמה טובה לכך למצווה מורכבת.
The passages describing the laws of Shemittah in both שמות ודברים focus on its aid to the poor:
What is the relationship between these differing portraits?
שמיטה וגלות
The importance of the observance of Shemittah is highlighted in ויקרא כ"ו, where it is singled out in the blessings and curses as the root cause of the nation's ultimate exile:1
But of all of the Torah's cardinal prescriptions,2 why is the violation of Shemittah viewed with such severity and why does it have such enormous consequences?
To explore how commentators throughout the generations have understood the character and significance of the mitzvah of Shemittah, המשיכו לגישות פרשניות.
