Parshas Behar

At the beginning of Parshas Behar Hashem addresses us with the mitzvah of Shmittah. The passuk (passage) states, “V’Shavsah HaAretz Shabbos” And the land shall observe a Sabbath rest. Every 7th year is called the Shmittah. It is a time when the Jews in Eretz Yisroel (Israel) must completely refrain from working in their fields. One of the many reasons for Shmittah is to strengthen one’s emuna (faith) in Hashem. The fruit that grows during the Shmittah year is unlike the other fruit of the year, these fruits must be handled carefully and in strict accordance with the Halacha regarding Shmittah and it’s produce.

The commandment of Shmittah in the Torah is for one to treat his land as a “Sabbath rest” this means that Hashem wants us to give our land a rest for Him as the passuk concludes by saying “LaHashem” for Hashem.

Rashi asks, why does the first passuk in Parshas Behar say “Hashem spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai saying” and then goes on to discuss the mitzvah of Shmittah, why Shmittah? What is so special about the mitzvah of Shmittah?

Rashi answers his own question; this reference to Shmittah is coming to teach us that every minute detail of every mitzvah was given at Har Sinai (like Shmittah). All of the mitzvos that were given in later years were still part of the revelation at Har Sinai.

Now we have a new question here, if every mitzvah was commanded at Har Sinai then why did the passuk say “Hashem spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai “? We know that already?

The answer is that these seemingly superfluous words (on Har Sinai) were put there to show us that every commandment in the Torah was given at Har Sinai.

May we all learn from here to recognize and fully understand that every mitzvah in the Holy Torah was given at Har Sinai directly from Hashem! -Amen!

HAVE A GREAT SHABBOS AND WEEKEND!

Stay tuned for next week’s Parsha called,

Parshas Bechukosai (BI-CHOO-KOE-SI)!