Difference between revisions of "Purpose of Shemittah/2"
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<mekorot><multilink><a href="SifraVayikra26-34" data-aht="source">Sifra Vayikra</a><a href="SifraVayikra26-34" data-aht="source">26:34</a><a href="Sifra Vayikra" data-aht="parshan">About the Sifra Vayikra</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="BavliSanhedrin39a" data-aht="source">Bavli Sanhedrin</a><a href="BavliSanhedrin39a" data-aht="source">Sanhedrin 39a</a><a href="Talmud Bavli" data-aht="parshan">About the Bavli</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="IbnEzraLongCommentaryShemot20-8" data-aht="source">Ibn Ezra</a><a href="IbnEzraLongCommentaryShemot20-8" data-aht="source">Long Commentary Shemot 20:8</a><a href="IbnEzraDevarim31-10" data-aht="source">Devarim 31:10</a><a href="IbnEzraShortCommentaryShemot31-13" data-aht="source">Short Commentary Shemot 31:13</a><a href="R. Avraham ibn Ezra" data-aht="parshan">About R. Avraham ibn Ezra</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RYosefBekhorShorVayikra25-2" data-aht="source">R. Yosef Bekhor Shor</a><a href="RYosefBekhorShorVayikra25-2" data-aht="source">Vayikra 25:2</a><a href="RYosefBekhorShorDevarim31-10" data-aht="source">Devarim 31:10</a><a href="R. Yosef Bekhor Shor" data-aht="parshan">About R. Yosef Bekhor Shor</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RambanVayikra25-2" data-aht="source">Ramban</a><a href="RambanVayikra25-2" data-aht="source">Vayikra 25:2</a><a href="R. Moshe b. Nachman (Ramban, Nachmanides)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Moshe b. Nachman</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="AkeidatYitzchakVayikra69" data-aht="source">Akeidat Yitzchak</a><a href="AkeidatYitzchakVayikra69" data-aht="source">Vayikra 69</a><a href="R. Yitzchak Arama (Akeidat Yitzchak)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Yitzchak Arama</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="AbarbanelVayikra25-2-7" data-aht="source">Abarbanel</a><a href="AbarbanelVayikra25-2-7" data-aht="source">Vayikra 25:2-7</a><a href="R. Yitzchak Abarbanel" data-aht="parshan">About R. Yitzchak Abarbanel</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RSRHirschShemot23-10-11" data-aht="source">R. S"R Hirsch</a><a href="RSRHirschShemot23-10-11" data-aht="source">Shemot 23:10-11</a><a href="R. Samson Raphael Hirsch" data-aht="parshan">About R. Samson Raphael Hirsch</a></multilink></mekorot> | <mekorot><multilink><a href="SifraVayikra26-34" data-aht="source">Sifra Vayikra</a><a href="SifraVayikra26-34" data-aht="source">26:34</a><a href="Sifra Vayikra" data-aht="parshan">About the Sifra Vayikra</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="BavliSanhedrin39a" data-aht="source">Bavli Sanhedrin</a><a href="BavliSanhedrin39a" data-aht="source">Sanhedrin 39a</a><a href="Talmud Bavli" data-aht="parshan">About the Bavli</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="IbnEzraLongCommentaryShemot20-8" data-aht="source">Ibn Ezra</a><a href="IbnEzraLongCommentaryShemot20-8" data-aht="source">Long Commentary Shemot 20:8</a><a href="IbnEzraDevarim31-10" data-aht="source">Devarim 31:10</a><a href="IbnEzraShortCommentaryShemot31-13" data-aht="source">Short Commentary Shemot 31:13</a><a href="R. Avraham ibn Ezra" data-aht="parshan">About R. Avraham ibn Ezra</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RYosefBekhorShorVayikra25-2" data-aht="source">R. Yosef Bekhor Shor</a><a href="RYosefBekhorShorVayikra25-2" data-aht="source">Vayikra 25:2</a><a href="RYosefBekhorShorDevarim31-10" data-aht="source">Devarim 31:10</a><a href="R. Yosef Bekhor Shor" data-aht="parshan">About R. Yosef Bekhor Shor</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RambanVayikra25-2" data-aht="source">Ramban</a><a href="RambanVayikra25-2" data-aht="source">Vayikra 25:2</a><a href="R. Moshe b. Nachman (Ramban, Nachmanides)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Moshe b. Nachman</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="AkeidatYitzchakVayikra69" data-aht="source">Akeidat Yitzchak</a><a href="AkeidatYitzchakVayikra69" data-aht="source">Vayikra 69</a><a href="R. Yitzchak Arama (Akeidat Yitzchak)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Yitzchak Arama</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="AbarbanelVayikra25-2-7" data-aht="source">Abarbanel</a><a href="AbarbanelVayikra25-2-7" data-aht="source">Vayikra 25:2-7</a><a href="R. Yitzchak Abarbanel" data-aht="parshan">About R. Yitzchak Abarbanel</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RSRHirschShemot23-10-11" data-aht="source">R. S"R Hirsch</a><a href="RSRHirschShemot23-10-11" data-aht="source">Shemot 23:10-11</a><a href="R. Samson Raphael Hirsch" data-aht="parshan">About R. Samson Raphael Hirsch</a></multilink></mekorot> | ||
<point><b>"שַׁבָּת לַי"י"</b> – This position draws on the verses in Vayikra which describe the year as a Shabbat for Hashem.<fn>As the terminology cannot be coming to say that God somehow needs the sabbatical year, it must be emphasizing that the commandment is integrally connected to recognizing God.</fn></point> | <point><b>"שַׁבָּת לַי"י"</b> – This position draws on the verses in Vayikra which describe the year as a Shabbat for Hashem.<fn>As the terminology cannot be coming to say that God somehow needs the sabbatical year, it must be emphasizing that the commandment is integrally connected to recognizing God.</fn></point> | ||
| − | <point><b>Comparison to Shabbat</b></point> | + | <point><b>Comparison to Shabbat</b> – Many of these commentators<fn>See Ibn Ezra, Ramban, Akeidat Yitzchak and Abarbanel.  Cf. Shadal below who also elaborates on the many parallels but focuses on how they serve to inculcate a feeling of social equality rather than how they teach about God's role as creator.</fn> point to the abundant parallels between the description of the Shemittah year and Shabbat, concluding that both serve as a reminder that Hashem created the world and that He is sovereign over it and all mankind:<br/> |
| + | <ul> | ||
| + | <li>Name - Both Shabbat Bereshit and the Shemittah year are referred to as a  "shabbat".</li> | ||
| + | <li>Cycles of seven – Each of Shabbat and Semittah revolve around cycles of seven, in which 6 units of time are devoted to work and the seventh to abstaining therefrom.</li> | ||
| + | <li>Rest for all – By both commandments the verses emphasize the resting of the "slave and maidservant".</li> | ||
| + | <li>Juxtaposition – In Shemot 23, the two commanments follow one another, reinforcing the connection between the two.</li> | ||
| + | </ul></point> | ||
<point><b>Break from work</b></point> | <point><b>Break from work</b></point> | ||
<point><b>Forsaking of produce</b></point> | <point><b>Forsaking of produce</b></point> | ||
Version as of 02:05, 7 May 2015
Purpose of Shemittah
Exegetical Approaches
Recognition of God
The Shemittah year reminds the nation of God's sovereignty and providence, and makes them aware of their dependence upon Him.
Sources:Sifra Vayikra, Bavli Sanhedrin, Ibn Ezra, R. Yosef Bekhor Shor, Ramban, Akeidat Yitzchak, Abarbanel, R. S"R Hirsch
"שַׁבָּת לַי"י" – This position draws on the verses in Vayikra which describe the year as a Shabbat for Hashem.1
Comparison to Shabbat – Many of these commentators2 point to the abundant parallels between the description of the Shemittah year and Shabbat, concluding that both serve as a reminder that Hashem created the world and that He is sovereign over it and all mankind:
- Name - Both Shabbat Bereshit and the Shemittah year are referred to as a "shabbat".
- Cycles of seven – Each of Shabbat and Semittah revolve around cycles of seven, in which 6 units of time are devoted to work and the seventh to abstaining therefrom.
- Rest for all – By both commandments the verses emphasize the resting of the "slave and maidservant".
- Juxtaposition – In Shemot 23, the two commanments follow one another, reinforcing the connection between the two.
Break from work
Forsaking of produce
Context
Punishment of exile
Parallel Commandments
Social Justice
The commandment comes to teach people to have mercy on those less fortunate than themselves and to emphasize the equality of all mankind.
For the Land
Shemittah focuses on man's relationship to the land, rather than to God or the others around him. It either serves a practical function in keeping the land healthy and able to bear fruit or highhlights the holiness of the land.
