An Agricultural Shabbat

Dear BMC Family, 

The Jewish tradition emphasizes the importance of taking time to rest and reflect every seven days, centered around the commandment of Shabbat. As we see in this week’s Torah portion, Behar-Bechukotai, the land also requires a rest.

Here the Torah teaches us of the commandments around Sh'mitah, which literally means ‘release’. The primary commandment that we’ll focus on is to pause all agricultural work and allow the land to rest for one year, every seven years. The others are: all produce in that seventh year is free and ownerless, we are to forgive any outstanding debts, and that we are to sanctify the produce in the seventh year. 

Taking an extended break from cultivating your main food source must be a daunting experience. Further, imagine reaping benefits for six years - the routine and expectations that would come from that - and then completely relinquishing for a full calendar year. There are so many questions and anxieties that might arise from such a set of commandments. Why would this be required?

We know that endless cultivation, especially of monocultures, drains the land of its resources. Unfettered use of our resources leads to myriad consequences. So this first commandment is a deep ecological truth, ultimately serving us in the long run as well. Through restraint and respectful cultivation, we can expect the land will be able to continue providing us with a life sustaining harvest.

In a literal sense, this is no doubt daunting. Can you imagine farming land for six years, only to have to relinquish all effective ownership or yield for an entire year? What kind of planning has to go into that? How might you feel heading into year six? Are your expectations established and your routine set heading into this massive change?

Or perhaps, what does this mean about ownership? What does it mean to make something and let it belong to everyone? And how can this make our world a better place?

Food for thought: The next Sh’Mita year begins September 2021. This gives us 15.5 months, which is a lot of time to experiment with changes in our lives. If we aren’t farming, how might we contribute to our community?

Experience it: Pick something you want to make or give away—like a letter of encouragement or some art—to folks in your community who are on the front lines in medicine or service. Send them a digital copy of the letter or artwork and let them know you’re thinking of them!

Continuing to wish you safety and health, and sending a רְפוּאָה שְׁלֵמָה (r’fuah shlema, full recovery) to anyone currently in need.

For those in our community who have experienced loss at this time, 

המקום ינחם אתכם בתוך שאר אבלי ציון וירושלים

Hamakom yenakhem etekhem betokh shaar avelay tziyon viyrushalayim.

May Hashem comfort you among the rest of the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.

Shabbat Shalom, 

BMC Team