Shmitah – Divine Assistance
ויקרא כה ,ד: וּבַשָּנָּה הַשְבִיעִת שַׁבַת שַׁבָּתוֹן יִהְיֶה לָּאָּרֶץ שַׁבָּת לַה'
According to Sforno, the meaning of “Shabbos for Hashem” is “The year that you are free from agricultural activities was set aside for you to serve HaShem.” It is not because one is not preoccupied with the Land that he has time to engage in the service of HaShem, but rather there is a special Divine Assistance that is made available to the one who chooses to engage in spiritual activities. Just as HaShem permeates existence on the Shabbos, so too He is closer to the Land of Israel during the Sabbatical year. This is the basis for the holiness of the Shabbos and the Sabbatical year.
Sforno continues, “When the farmer will cease to work during the Sabbatical year, he will be aroused to serve HaShem.” Even the unlearned laborer, who ordinarily is not motivated to engage in spiritual matters, because of the special Divine Assistance that is available in that year, will become aroused to serve HaShem. The Jew becomes spiritualized to a greater degree. HaShem’s association with the Land of Israel during the seventh year not only impacts upon the individual, it also affects the produce of that year giving it a holy status. Because of its holy status, it must be dealt with and consumed in a special manner. During the seventh year of the Sabbatical Cycle, one is not permitted to exercise any degree of ownership rights relating to the agricultural aspects of the land. This demonstrates that the world belongs to HaShem.
Full Years
ויקרא כה,ח : וְסָּפַרְ תָּּ לְךָ שֶׁבַע שַׁבְתֹת שָּׁנִים שֶׁבַע שָּׁנִים שֶׁבַע פְעָּמִים וְהָּיוּ לְךָ יְמֵי שֶׁבַע שַׁבְתֹת הַשָּנִים תֵּשַׁע וְאַרְ בָּעִים שָּׁנָּה:
The Sforno notes that the words “year” and “years” is mentioned four times in this verse. This teaches us that only after forty-nine complete years of halachic months (and not years of solar or lunar months) shall the fiftieth year shall become Yovel. The seven cycles of seven years must reflect the seasons of planting and harvesting. Thus the extra intercalated years must be included in the calculations.
Do Not Cheat
ויקרא כה,יד: וְכִי־תִמְכְרוּ מִמְכָּר לַעֲמִיתֶךָ אוֹ קָּנֹה מִיַד עֲמִיתֶךָ אַל־תּוֹנוּ אִישׁ אֶת־אָּחִיו:
There should be no deceit in any transaction. The Sforno cites the law from Bava Metzia 60a prohibits the seller to pick out the refuse from the top of the bind and mix it with the grain beneath, in order to deceive potential buyers, for this is patently deceptive. But the same token, the Torah cautions the buyer not to take unfair advantage of the seller’s lack of knowledge regarding the true value of the article being sold.
Caring for Another
ויקרא כה,מז : אוֹ לְעֵקֶר מִשְׁפַחַת גֵר... גְאֻלָּה תִּהְיֶה־לוֹ
The Sforno explains that the verse says there is redemption even to one that sold himself to a foreign family which Chaza”l says means an idol-worshiping establishment. His job becomes servicing of idol worship. Nevertheless, the Torah says we should redeem this Jew from this sorrowful situation even though he has consciously sold himself into the idol-worship business. No matter how distanced from Torah a person places himself, the Torah requires of us to get him out of that situation.
