While much is explicit and rather detailed in this week’s parashah, what calls out to me the loudest is what is implicit.  We are given instructions on Sabbatical years for farming, and for the Jubilee years.  The Torah tells us these instructions came from Moses’ time on Mount Sinai.  Instructions are given to take care of the poor, be fair in business, and the perpetual rights of the descendants of  Jacob to live on alloted portions of Canaan for perpetuity. 

        All of these things are wrapped up by the words from 26:1 - 2:  “You shall not make idols for yourselves, nor shall you set up a statue or a monument for yourselves.  And in your land, you shall not place a pavement stone on which to prostrate yourselves, for I am the Lord, your G-d.  You shall keep My Sabbaths and fear My Sanctuary.  I am the Lord.”  If one only understands the explicit instructions in this week’s parashah, the above closing statements appear out of place.

        This is exactly what makes me even more certain the implicit message is the most important one.  Every seventh year, and then two years in a row in the forty-ninth, and fiftieth years, we should utilize our time not in business transactions, but rather in pursuit of spirituality, closeness to G-d.  Have I gotten your attention?!  In this materialistic world, this is asking quite a lot.

        Okay, I’ll admit, it is probably not about giving up all work completely.  The instructions were specific to the farming of vegetables and fruits.  Keep in mind, this was the main occupation of the Israelites during this era, besides animal husbandry.  While there is no specific prohibition on spending or receiving money, nor on all kinds of work, the message was as meaningful then as it is apropos now.

        The fruit and vegetables were not to be tended nor hoarded, but rather to be shared equally with all people and animals.  During the Sabbatical years, the fields were to be considered “ownerless”.  They belong to G-d.  Like all laws given to us in the Torah, there are practical reasons we have come to understand with time, but there are spiritual reasons as well.  Spiritual reasons far deeper than just because G-d said so!

        Currently, people the world over are experiencing difficult times.  Our parashah lets us know this is part of a cycle of life.  While the Sabbatical years are imposed upon us, we still choose to comply, or not.  We are reinforced in this parashah with the idea we are all responsible for one another.  We shouldn’t allow anyone we know, whether or not we are related by blood, to be homeless, hungry, or to place or force anyone into a position where one feels degraded.   Just because someone is down on their luck, doesn’t give anyone else the right to take advantage of them financially, physically, or otherwise.

        I have to tell you it is so difficult to write when so many examples of people, companies, and governments are acting contrary to what Adonai wants, what every person deserves.  Like the great Aretha sang, “R E S P E C T”.  Every living being and thing deserves respect.

        When we are told in the Torah to self-impose restrictions on our moneymaking abilities, the importance of this is underlined by the beginning of our parashah stating this law came from Mount Sinai.  Meaning, it is part of the holy Torah, G-d’s word - not suggestion; rather, a law.  The Torah was given to us in the desert, while we ourselves were temporarily homeless.  We were wandering, and learning how to create a nation which could teach other nations not only that there is only one G-d, but also that we demonstrate honor, and respect, by treating all people, animals, and plants with respect.

        Normally, one’s worries include how to feed oneself, and one’s family, all of the many things involved with taking good care of ourselves and our families, providing for them, quotas at work, and other such worries involving work - these are all things which pertain to material existence on earth.  Once every seven years, for a complete year, however, we should place ourselves in “G-d’s hands”.  This means studying the Torah, Tanakh, and the Talmud (for Jewish people); and for everyone else, their own holy books, and only worry about doing the right thing, and how we treat others.  Yes, of course we should also spend much time in prayer.  Judaism has a saying:  The world rests on three things, prayer, study of Torah, and acts of loving kindness.

        Maybe you think this is rather simplistic.  Maybe it is, but the truth is everything we have, or don’t have is because G-d allows it.  When we ourselves are down and out, we give others opportunity to perform acts of loving kindness for us.  If we all had all we wanted and needed all the time, if the world knew no sorrow, then what would count as acts of loving kindness?  I’m not saying going through trying times should ONLY be perceived as a way to enable others to help us.  We are supposed to do what we can to help ourselves out of times of trouble too.

        It is during hard times when we tend to feel the greatest loss of control.  This is because any control we think we have is only an illusion.  As the Rolling Stones sang, sometimes we “can’t always get what (we) want,” but we “get what (we) need!”  If we spend more time connecting with G-d, both through our prayers and our actions, we can change the world for the better!  After all, the material world and all within it is transient, constantly changing, and temporary.  We can only “own” something for a time before people or nature takes it away.

        If everyone in the world would take this parashah to heart, study it, and become it, the world will change.  If we start treating all people with respect, the world will change.  If we stop wasting time trying to conquer, subjugate, or take what we want, the world will change.  The only criminals would be those who are sociopaths and psychopaths, and by taking responsibility for each other, they would be stopped a lot sooner, and therefore have fewer victims.  The world would change if we treated everyone with respect, helped each other when we are falling, or have fallen.  We would jointly be the Messiah the world has been waiting upon.  We would be partners with G-d.

        I’ll end with reminding you of the words sung by the late, great John Lennon:  “You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one.  I hope someday you’ll join us.  And the world will live as one!”

        Shabbat Shalom!  I’d love to know what you think!