Are there benefits to doing nothing?
This week’s parsha discusses the mitzvah of shemittah, when we are not allowed to engage in agricultural activities like plowing, planting, or harvesting. Although we observe shemittah because Hashem has commanded it, letting the land “rest” has many benefits. It can improve soil health by allowing the land to recover nutrients and minerals, improving it for future crops.
Leaving the land alone can also help conserve soil moisture. Without crops drawing water from the soil, moisture levels can be maintained or even increased, which is beneficial in dry regions. Finally, without crops, many weeds and pest struggle to survive, which reduces their population.
Keeping this mitzvah is good for us, not only in Olam Haba but also in Olam Hazeh.
