Seventh year of the seven-year agricultural cycle mandated by the Torah for the Land of Israel
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Shiur given by Rabbi Bezalel Rudinsky on Parshas Behar-Bechukosay. Shiur recorded in Yeshivas Ohr Reuven, Monsey, NY.
Shiur given by Rabbi Yisroel Saperstein on Parsha. Shiur recorded in Yeshivas Ohr Reuven, Monsey, NY.
Late Night Mishmar With Rabbi Reisman: Fruit During Shemita - Does The Torah Make It Hefker Automatically Or Is There A Mitzva For The Owner To Be Mafkir It?
Moed Katan 3a: Geder of Mitzvas Shemita - Gavra or Cheftzah
Moed Katan 3b: Planting during Tosefes Shemita
Moed Katan 4a: Geder of Tosefes Shemita and Tosefes Yom Kippur , Shabbos etc
Moed Katan 4b: Safek Issur Shemita, Safek Derrabanan by a Teiku
Shiur given by Rabbi Bezalel Rudinsky on Parshas Behar Bechukosai. Shiur recorded in Yeshivas Ohr Reuven, Monsey, NY.
Parashat Behar begins with the Misva of Shemita, which requires farmers to refrain from agricultural activity for an entire year every seven years. The Torah refers to this year as "Shabbat L'Hashem" – "A sabbath to God" (25:2), and as "Shabbat Shabbaton" (25:4), a phrase whose meaning is not, at first glance, clear. The Seforno (Rav Ovadia Seforno, Italy, 1475-1549) explains the first expression, "Shabbat L'Hashem," to mean that this year is to be devoted to Hashem. G-d commands farmers to refrain from agricultural work so that they can spend this year involved in Torah learning and prayer. Just as we refrain from work one day a week, Shabbat, in order to spend a day engrossed in spirituality, similarly, once in seven years, farmers are to spend a year devoted to the nurturing of their soul. As for the term "Shabbat Shabbaton," the Seforno writes that this instructs farmers to refrain also from certain activities related to agriculture that are not technically forbidden by the formal laws of Shemita. To understand the Seforno's intent, we must take a step back and examine the notion of the "Takanot" – the laws enacted by the Sages to safeguard the Torah. It goes without saying that the Torah is perfect, and does not and will never require any amending. The purpose of the Rabbis' "Takanot" was most certainly not to "improve" the already perfect Torah. Rather, they were intended to uphold the spirit of the law. It is possible, for example, for a person to avoid all the activities forbidden by the Torah on Shabbat, while treating the day not much different than a weekday. A businessman can run his business on Shabbat without performing any acts that constitute Biblical acts of Shabbat desecration. He can go to his office with a non-Jewish taxi service, manage his employees, and even write with a "Shinui" – a deviation, like with his weaker hand – such that he has a pretty typical business day without transgressing any Torah violations. A person can also spend Shabbat cleaning his garage and washing his car without desecrating Shabbat on the level of Torah law. Clearly, however, this is not how the Torah wants us to spend Shabbat. In addition to the letter of the law, there is the spirit of the law, the purpose for which the law exists. The Shabbat prohibitions are intended to create a certain atmosphere, an aura of serenity, joy, calm, holiness, and spiritual growth. The Rabbis saw that people were observing the letter of the law without observing the spirit of the law. In many areas, they were able to abide by the strict letter of the Torah's commands, but while missing the entire point of these commands. And so the Sages enacted many laws in order to ensure that we not only technically observe the Torah's commands, but also achieve the goals which these commands are meant to lead us to. According to the Seforno, this is the meaning of "Shabbat Shabbaton." The Torah indicates to us that besides refraining from the specific forms of agricultural activity forbidden by the laws of Shemita, farmers must also maintain a certain aura during this year, an aura of spiritual engagement and holiness. To that end, they are to refrain from even technically permissible forms of work, so that the Shemita year will be spent in a fundamentally different way than the other six years. What is true about Shabbat and Shemita is true also of our relationships. In a good marriage, the husband and wife do not need to be told what to do for one another, and what not to do. They understand what the other wants, and they try to fulfill those wishes to the best of their ability. I am reminded of the time when a fellow called me to ask if it was acceptable to miss his evening Torah study in order to go out with his wife for their anniversary. I told him that I don't have time for questions such as these. This should not even be asked. It should be obvious that one owes it to his wife to spend time with her on their anniversary. One does not need to ask a Rabbi to authorize his going out with his wife on their anniversary. This is something that he should not need to be told. The fellow went home and said, "The Rabbi said we can go out tonight." This is now how it is done. A man does not spend time with his wife because the Rabbi said so. He spends time with his wife because he knows that this is what she wants and what she expects. He should not wait to be told – by her or by a Rabbi – that this is what he should do. In our relationship with Hashem and in our relationships with other people, we are to extend beyond the technical "dos" and "don'ts," the strict letter of the law, and try as much as possible to do what we intuitively know they want us to do.
In this shiur, delivered in Tomer Devorah, Rav Burg explains the inner connection between Ameilus B'Torah and Shemita.
This week's Jerusalem Lights podcast breathes a heavy sigh and considers the massive desecration of G-d's name (chilul Hashem) as Israel is maligned while she continues to defend herself and fight for her very survival. Foreseen by the prophets, this is a decisive factor in the advent of the Redemption. Jim Long and Rabbi Chaim Richman discuss the profound concept of the 'Shemita' Sabbatical year, not an agricultural matter but a lesson in radical trust in G-d. Lovingly Recorded in Ora Studios, Jerusalem Israel________Rabbi Chaim Richman Jerusalem Lights | Torah for Everyone Please support the work of Jerusalem Lights, Inc., a USA recognized 501 ( c ) 3 non-profit organization to enable these productions to continue and grow:PayPal: infojerusalemlights@gmail.com or: https://paypal.me/JerusalemLights?loc...In the USA: Jerusalem Lights Inc. Post Office Box 16886Lubbock Texas 79490In Israel: Tel. 972 54 7000395 Mail: PO Box 23808, Jerusalem IsraelSubscribe to our newsletter at https://www.rabbirichman.comSubscribe to our YouTube channel: / jerusalemlightsrabbichaimrichman Follow us on Facebook: / rabbichaimrichman / 282440396475839
Why does the Torah mention Har Sinai at the beginning of this week's Parsha? What are the multitude of meanings behind the Shemita laws? What is the meaning behind the apparent numerical mistake in the beginning of Bechukotai? All this and more on this week's Ponderings on the Parsha
Elul is the 12th and final month of the Jewish calendar year. Elul Unbound is a Judaism Unbound initiative all about making Elul meaningful, through creative digital modalities. In this second bonus episode of Elul Unbound, Lex Rofeberg and Wendie Bernstein Lash continue their exploration of the power of threes.This Elul bonus episode is the second of four that will be released as part of Elul Unbound 2024 (our 22nd-25th Elul episodes overall). Check out Elul Unbound by visiting www.judaismunbound.com/elul.To check out our previous Elul bonus episodes, released through Elul Unbounds of the past six years, click here. Join our bi-weekly journey through Elul Unbound 2024 by signing up at this link, and sign up for our first Elul Unbound Shabbat gathering of 2024 (Friday, September 6th), where we will be forging our kavanot (intentions) for the new year in real time with friends, by clicking here.
arashat Re'eh concludes with the command to celebrate the festival of Sukkot. The Torah instructs: "You shall rejoice on your festival… For seven days, you shall celebrate for Hashem your G-d…for Hashem your G-d will bless you with all your grain, and in all your endeavors; and you shall only be joyous" (16:14-15). Twice in these verses the Torah appears to command us to rejoice on Sukkot. It first commands, "Ve'samahta Be'hagecha" ("You shall rejoice on your festival"), and then says, "Ve'hayita Ach Samei'ah" ("you shall only be joyous"). What is the meaning of this dual imperative? Rashi brings two interpretations of these verse. First, he suggests, the Torah adds "Ve'hayita Ach Same'ah" not as a command, but rather as a promise. If we properly fulfill the Misva of Simha (rejoicing) on Sukkot, then we will be assured to experience genuine happiness and joy throughout the coming year. Secondly, Rashi cites the Gemara's understanding of the phrase "Ve'hayita Ach Same'ah," as extending this obligation to the eighth day, the day of Shemini Aseret. The Torah first introduces the Misva to rejoice during the seven days of Sukkot, and then adds that we must joyously celebrate also on the eighth day. Rav Meir Simha of Dvinsk, in his Meshech Hochma, suggests a different explanation of "Ve'hayita Ach Same'ah." He notes that in the first verse, the Torah commands celebrating the year's crop, which is gathered into the warehouses around the time of Sukkot – "You shall rejoice…for Hashem your G-d will bless you with all your grain…" The celebration of Sukkot is integrally linked to the harvest, to the farmer's joy upon completing that year's agricultural cycle, having just now brought all his produce into storage for the winter. However, Rav Meir Simha notes, there are some years when no produce is collected. Every seven years, farmers must observe Shemita, refraining from agricultural work for an entire year, and granting all people free access to their fields. At the end of the Shemita year, the farmer does not harvest anything, because he had not worked the fields, and anything that grew was taken by other people. Rav Meir Simha thus suggests that the additional command "Ve'hayita Ach Same'ah" refers to Sukkot after the Shemita year. The Torah emphasizes that even during this year, when there is no harvest to be thankful for, the farmer must still observe a festive Yom Tob, and celebrate his relationship with Hashem. Baruch Hashem, most of us have "filled warehouses" for which to be grateful to Hashem. The vast majority of us have an income, a home, and the ability to purchase all that we need, and much more. But the Torah here teaches us that even when our "warehouses" are not "filled," even in times of financial uncertainty, we can and must still retain our joy. We must be able to celebrate our relationship with Hashem, and the privilege we have to serve Him, under all conditions, even in times of hardship. No matter what we are going through, we can find comfort and joy in the knowledge that we are Hashem's beloved children, and that He has chosen us as His servants. The command "Ve'hayita Ach Same'ah" calls upon us to experience joy in our connection to Hashem at all times and under all circumstances, even during life's more challenging moments.
The Power to Create Time : Counting the Omer & the Various Dimensions of Time /Weeks/Months/Years/ Shemita/Yovel. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ravpinsonpodcast/support
Join us in Jerusalem for Ohr Samayach's Inaugural Yarchei Kallah event from July 1st to 4th, 2024! Featuring HaRav Yitzchak Breitowitz shlit"a & HaRav Asher Weiss shlit"a Click here for more information. Dont miss this one of a kind experience! Dedication opportunities are available for episodes and series at https://ohr.edu/donate/qa Questions? Comments? podcasts@ohr.edu Yeshivat Ohr Somayach located in the heart of Jerusalem, is an educational institution for young Jewish English-speaking men. We have a range of classes and programs designed for the intellectually curious and academically inclined - for those with no background in Jewish learning to those who are proficient in Gemara and other original source material. To find the perfect program for you, please visit our website https://ohr.edu/study_in_israel whatsapp us at https://bit.ly/OSREGISTER or call our placement specialist at 1-254-981-0133 today! Subscribe to the Rabbi Breitowitz Q&A Podcast at https://plnk.to/rbq&a Submit questions for the Q&A with Rabbi Breitowitz https://forms.gle/VCZSK3wQJJ4fSd3Q7 Subscribe to our YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/c/OhrSomayach/videos 00:00 - What is the difference between my suffering being a Kapara (atonement) or a result of my own mistakes? 05:00 - The Torah mentions many miraculous things occurring as a result of keeping mitzvos (Shemita and Sotah). Do we have historical or archaeological evidence that these things happened? 11:30 - We know that it is forbidden to ‘put a stumbling block before the blind'. Would this also apply to giving someone food of a lower standard of kashrut than you would personally eat? 16:20 - What is the significance and effect of mourner's kaddish? 22:00 - Can women say kaddish? 24:20 - Can a convert say kaddish for a non-Jewish parent? 26:10 - There seems to be a contradiction in how the Torah views money. On the one hand, the Torah says that one who has possessions will have worry; on the other hand, money is celebrated when it is given as a donation to the yeshiva. 31:40 - If I could know for certain that I could be a successful business person 34:50 - There is a torah prohibition against Beged Isha. A man wearing a woman's item of clothing. This has been extended to plucking hairs or dying hairs. However, we have a principle that what is deemed ‘woman's behaviour' changes with the era in history. Could this permit plucking hairs and the like? 38:00 - Is Beged Isha the reason why religious women do not wear pants? 39:00 - What percentage of men need to practice a behaviour in order to for it be permissible in regard to the prohibition of Beged Isha? 40:40 - What is the significance of Ana BoKoach and why do we say it during Sefiras HaOmer? 44:00 - How do we relate to stories of Gedolim that are beyond us? 51:00 - Banned Books and Boruch Epstein 58:00 - Why did Volozhin yeshiva close? 1:00:10 - Men and Women touching is usually forbidden but is mutar in professional settings. Is it fitting to be machmir in such professional settings? 1:02:45 - Sexual Harassment and the modern-day relevance of Halachic boundaries on male-female interactions 01:07:30 - What is the purpose for Aggedata in the Gemara? Is it all literally true? 01:18:40 - What is Geula? Is it physical or spiritual, personal or national? 01:22:00 - Is the son of Cohen and a convert a Cohen? 01:23:30 - Is the child of a woman who converted during pregnancy Jewish by descent or a convert? 01:25:30 - What is the Torah view on Progressive Income Tax? 01:28:45 - Why do they play music before candle-lighting during Sefira? 01:31:00 - Should we be more lenient in Halacha in the interest of achdus(unity)? 01:35:00 - Is it a problem to say hamapil in pajamas? What about talking after hamapil? You can listen to this and many other Ohr Somayach programs by downloading our app, on Apple and Google Play, ohr.edu and all major podcast platforms. Visit us @ https://ohr.edu PRODUCED BY: CEDAR MEDIA STUDIOS