In this week’s double Torah portion, B’har-B’chukotai, we read of the law of shemitah a sabbatical year for agricultural crops. Every 50 years, the Israelites were commanded to refrain from planting crops for two consecutive years. In the meantime, God assured them that they would have enough food to eat until the next harvest.
Rabbi Yitzkhak Nafkha -third century CE - marveled at the ancient Israelite’s strength and resolve to follow God’s commandment to let the land lay fallow for two years. He wrote, “While it is common for a person to fulfill a commandment for one day, for one Shabbat, or even for one month, can one do so for an entire year? This person sees his field ownerless, his fences broken and fruits eaten, yet controls himself and does not speak. Our rabbis taught, “Who is strong? One who controls passion. Can there be a mightier creature than a person like this?”
The parallels between the ancient commandment to observe a year of shemitah and our own situation of quarantine are abundant. Indeed, many of us find ourselves asking those exact questions: How can I endure this situation one more day, one more Shabbat, one more month? Can I do it for an entire year? We fear daily the economic and social consequences of this pandemic and quarantine. Our emotions run high.
In the face of such challenges, Judaism reminds us to maintain our hope and optimism. Our faith gently reminds us to try to ground ourselves in calm and patience. Our situation will improve. What lies fallow will again be fertile. We will take care of each other and God will watch over us.
May God bless you and keep you. May you be blessed with a week of peace.
