Behar

In this parsha

Behar presents the laws of the sabbatical year, when the Land of Israel lies fallow every seventh year, and the Jubilee year, when after seven cycles the shofar sounds, ancestral land returns to its original families, and indentured servants go free. It commands fairness in commerce, the redemption of sold land and houses, and support for an impoverished kinsman without charging him interest. The parsha details the laws of the Hebrew servant and his redemption, teaching that the people of Israel are God's servants and that the Land is ultimately His.

Themes

• Shemittah, nullifying nature to Hashem
• Servant and son of Hashem
• Rest reveals Hashem's hidden kingship
• Returning creation to its root
• Bittul and trust bring blessing
• Unity prepares Yisrael for Torah

Must-read teachings

1. 1Shemittah, bittul, and returning yesh to its SourceThe matter of the Shemittin and Yovlos being connected to Har Sinai. The Sefas Emes addresses Rashi's classic question (from the Toras Kohanim) on "Behar Sinai": why is Shemittah singled out as having been given at Sinai? We have written se…תרמ"ה
2. 2Shemitah elevates nature to its rootConcerning the matter of shemitin (sabbatical years) and yovlos (jubilees). The Sefas Emes opens his discussion on the laws of the seventh year and the fiftieth-year jubilee. "And the land shall rest a Shabbos to Hashem" (Vayikra 25:2), "an…תרנ"א
3. 3Shemittah as testimony revealing Hashem's hidden kingship"And the land shall rest, a Shabbos unto Hashem" (Vayikra 25:2). The Sefas Emes opens on shemittah, the land's "Shabbos," and links it to the Shabbos of Creation. As is written regarding the Shabbos of Bereishis. He draws the parallel to th…תרנ"ח
4. 4Shemittah as redemption of the landConcerning the matter of Shemittah: "and the land shall rest" (Vayikra 25:2). The Sefas Emes opens on the mitzvah of Shemittah, the sabbatical year in which the land of Eretz Yisrael rests. For Bnei Yisrael were created to rectify the world…תר"נ
5. 5Servant and son: from yoke to freedomThe matter of the relationship of shemittin and yovlos to Har Sinai, based on the Midrash: "the mighty in strength who fulfill His word" (Tehillim 103:20) — the verse speaks of those who keep the Sabbatical year (shemittah). Why does the To…תרמ"ג
6. 6Serving Hashem as servant and child"When you come into the land which I give to you, the land shall rest…" (Vayikra 25:2). The Sefas Emes opens with the mitzvah of shemittah — the land's "Shabbos" once Bnei Yisrael enter Eretz Yisrael. For it is written, "He did not create i…תר"ס
7. 7Shemittah, trust, and receiving the TorahThe matter of the laws of shemittah (the sabbatical year) being placed next to Har Sinai. Rashi's famous question: why does the Torah single out shemittah as having been given "at Har Sinai"? The Sefas Emes will explain the inner link betwe…תרמ"ז
8. 8Eretz Yisrael, unity, and the root aboveA further matter regarding "B'Har Sinai" (on Mount Sinai). The Sefas Emes introduces another insight on the opening of the parshah, which links the laws of Shemittah ("on Mount Sinai") to the deeper purpose of the Land. For it is written, "…תרנ"ג