Parshas Behar
There is a very interesting Kli Yakar at the beginning of
Parshas Behar. First the Kli Yakar deals with Rashi’s question,
“Mah Inyan Shmitta Aitzel Har Sinai?1 - What is the
importance of mentioning that Shmitta was being told to B’nai
Yisroel at Har Sinai?” Rashi answers that the purpose is in
order to teach us that all details of all Mitzvos were given on
Har Sinai2.
The Kli Yakar states, “Klal Yisroel just counted the forty-nine
days from Pesach until Shavuos. Har Sinai attained a Kedusha
at this time, creating an Issur of plowing and planting due to
Matan Torah. Hashem then told Moshe the Halachos of
Shmitta and Yovel, in order to show that through the cycles of
seven and forty-nine there will be Kedusha given to Eretz
Yisroel. This is in order to relate Kedushas Har Sinai\Matan
Torah with the Kedusha of Eretz Yisroel.” The Kli Yakar then
explains the comparison as coming from the fact that “Aveera
D’Eretz Yisroel Machkim3” - The air of Eretz Yisroel makes a
person wiser, and “Ain Torah K’Toras Eretz Yisroel4” - There is
no Torah as that of Eretz Yisroel. Hashem gave this Kedusha
a series of Halachos - Shemita and Yovel, with a blowing of the
Shofar to tell of the start of the Yovel, just as the Shofar was
blown at the time of Maamad Har Sinai.
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v¨Y¦n§­ v©n tŠK¤t 'h³bh¦X¦n Ur§n¤t®b ,I‰m¦N©v kŠF tO£v³u
;©t 'h³bh¦X¦n ¨vh¤eUS§e¦s±u [¨vh¤,Iy¨r‰pU] ¨vh¤,IkŠk‰F Ur§n¤t®b
/h³bh¦X¦n i¤vh¥eUS§e¦s±u i¤vh¥,IkŠk‰F Ur§n¤t®b iŠKŒF
vhtrv eusesc vru,v harpnc whgu 2
ohfjn ktrah .rts trhut
3
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4
The Kli Yakar then quotes other reasons for the Halachos of
Shmitta and Yovel. At first he quotes those who say that it
relates to agricultural practice. One should learn to leave an
area barren every seventh year in order to strengthen the
ability of the land to produce in the years that it is planted.
The Kli Yakar asks a number of questions on this explanation.
One question is that we find that when Klal Yisroel doesn’t
keep Shmitta, it causes a Chiyuv Galus. Why Galus? Let the
punishment be that the land doesn’t produce. Even if the
punishment should be Galus, what will be gained by sending
Klal Yisroel to Galus and having Goyim live in Eretz Yisroel,
who will not keep Shmitta either? Furthermore, this should
not be called Shabbos LaHashem but Shabbos LaAretz - a rest
for the land.
The Kli Yakar then quotes those who explain that Shmitta is a
way to remember that Hashem created the world. The Kli
Yakar asks, we know that Shabbos is for this purpose. If
Shabbos, which comes weekly, doesn’t help us remember that
Hashem created the world, how will Shmitta accomplish our
remembering it when it only comes once in seven years?
The Kli Yakar then explains that the purpose of Shmitta and
Yovel are to instill Emuna and Bitachon in Hashem. Hashem
stated that Klal Yisroel should veer from the accepted
agricultural practice. The accepted practice is that a person
plants two thirds of his land each year, rotating which part is
left barren. In this way each part of land is planted two out of
three years. Klal Yisroel are told to plant their entire property
for six straight years and then the seventh year it should all be
left alone. Not only is the land used more, the Torah says that
if you keep Shmitta, the sixth year’s produce will last for three
years! This clearly is not natural, but a Ness. The Kli Yakar
adds that the Passuk says “V’Asas Es Hatevuah Lishlosh
Hashonim5” - And it will make the produce for three years.”
The land doesn’t produce three times the crops, but the same
amount of crops as usual. Hashem places a Brocha in the food
that it is three times as satisfying and therefore, lasts three
years. In this way the message of Emuna and Bitachon in
Hashem is strengthened.
Therefore, the punishment for not keeping Shmitta is the lack
of Emuna in Hashem. People must learn to realize that the
land isn’t ours - it is Hashem’s. We are supported by Hashem
through the Brocha that is given to the produce which
Hashem allows to grow due to our “Hishtadlus6” - efforts.
When we do not learn this lesson, and we do not keep
Shmitta, we are acting as if we control and determine the use
of the land. The land, which wants the Zechus of our keeping
Shmitta and teaching this lesson, will then “spit out the
people.7” The nations that will take over the land are not
causing the land pain since they are governed anyway by the
laws of nature.
Is there a lesson or connection between what the Kli Yakar
began with and this explanation?
It may be possible that the connection is as follows: The first
part of the Kli Yakar is saying that the Torah connected
Shmitta and Yovel to Har Sinai in order that we recognize the
:ohœ°b¨­©v J«¼k§Jˆk vº¨tUc§T©v›,¤t ¿,¨GŠg±u
5
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6
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v,ut oftnyc
relationship between Kabolas HaTorah and Kedushas HaAretz.
We also must realize that this Kedushas HaAretz has a special
Havtacha8 - promise, “Ainai Hashem Elokecha Bah9 - the eyes
of Hashem are upon the land.” All that happens with Eretz
Yisroel is related to what Hashem sees as being required and
needed. Hashgochas Hashem (a part of Emuna and Bitachon)
is to view the world with an eye of the Torah guiding us. This
comes from seeing Kedushas HaTorah. Seeing that Hashem
says, “Hagbail Es Hahar V’Kidashto10” - lift the mountain and
make
it
holy.”
The
Kedushas
HaTorah
lifts,
and
our
recognition of the special Hashgacha of Hashem on Eretz
Yisroel is a strength in our Emuna.
May we merit strengthening our recognition of Torah and
Emunas Hashem.
vjycv 8
///vc lhekt ws hbhg 9
u,aseu rvv ,t kcdv 10