THE IMPORTANCE OF SHEMITTA

Parshat Behar begins with the mitzvah of Shemitta — the Jewish nation is instructed that every seven years they will have to leave the land fallow.

In an agricultural economy this was a major upheaval, and, unlike Shabbat each week, which we are told commemorates the seventh day of creation, there is no reason attached to Shemitta.

Rabbi Dunner explores this topic beginning with the Talmud, and works his way through Maimonides and other classic and modern commentaries, who offer a variety of different perspectives regarding Shemitta, showing how this mitzvah can enhance our understanding of who we are, and what is really expected of us by God.