Shabbat Shalom!.
Behar (12th Iyar)
“Tell the Jews that when they come to the land, which
I have given to you, the land should rest... a Sabbath to
G-d:, you may sow your field for six years, and for six
years you may prune your vineyard and gather in its
produce, but in the seventh year, the land should have
a complete rest, a sabbath to G-d “ (25:2)
In this weeks parsha, Behar Hashem speaks to Moshe
and tells him to command the Jewish people that every
seven years we must allow the land to rest for one year.
Just as we have the 7th day a day of rest for Shabbat, so to our
land needs a year of rest every 7 years. There is to be no harvesting or planting of crops and the land must lie fallow. As we replenish ourselves during Shabbat, so to our land needs to replenish itself. Upon the completion of seven seven-year cycles, the fiftieth year, or Jubilee, is to be proclaimed. This is known as “Yovel” and a celebration honoring Hashem begins by the sounding of the shofar. In the Jubilee year all land must revert to its original tribal ownership, and all Hebrew slaves are to be freed. Many of these same laws are still in effect today.
“you should count for yourself seven sabbatical years, seven years seven times. The days of these seven sabbatical years will amount to forty-nine years for you”
By keeping the land fallow, (Shemittah,) we demonstrate our faith and trust in Hashem. By not working in the field during shmittah we are demonstrating our conviction that G-d will provide for us, and ultimately we recognize that everything we have comes from G-d. Ramban notes, that like Shabbos, Shemittah bears testimony to Hashem's creation of the universe in six days and His rest on the seventh day. We need to remember that though we work hard 6 days (or the land for 6 years) inorder to provide for our physical survival, the seventh day /year provides for our spiritual survival.
When we realize that there is a higher power at work in our lives we feel the freedom that enables us to extend ourselves to others. If one feels strong and good about themselves ,they have the ability to help others overcome any strife. Perhaps this is why while Behar discusses the care of the land, it also teaches us about the mitzvah of “Vihechezakta Bo”. One of the highest forms of charity is to step in with help, to prevent someone from becoming poor, “to strengthen” and help someone who is down. Rashi notes that when a donkey's load begins to slip, even one person can adjust it; but if the animal has fallen, even five people can't get it back on its feet. Give a person the ability to continue standing on his own two feet, before he falls all the way.
“if your brother becomes impoverished… you shall strengthen him.”
We are all connected to our fellow Jews, and we are obligated to strengthen and help the needy. One of the highest forms of charity is helping somebody to help themselves economically and avoid poverty. Give a man a fish and you give him a meal, teach a man to fish and you give him a livelihood. The laws of Shmittah remind us that we do not have control of our physical universe, but we do control how we act towards each other. We have the ability to extend ourselves to others, to give charity to someone in distress, and to give a fellow Jew a loan(without interest) if you are able. The return you will receive will far surpass that which you gave.
Shabbat Shalom,
Miriam
The reader should note that Rosh Hashanah, 2007, begins a shmittah year. Which means that produce and products which have been grown in Israel should not be eaten this year. So check your labels!
Cinnamon Bun Kugel
1/4 cup pareve margarine
1/2 cup dark brown sugar, packed
1 cup whole pecan halves
1 lb medium noodles, cooked and drained
4 eggs, beaten
1/4 cup pareve margarine, melted
1/3 cup sugar
1 tsp salt
2/3 cup raisins
1 tbl cinnamon
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Melt 1/4 cup margarine in 10 inch bundt pan. Sprinkle brown sugar, raisins and cinnamon at bottom
of pan and press pecan halves firmly into bottom of pan. Mix
other ingredients into noodles. Pour into pan and bake 1 hour. Cool and
unmold, so that the raisins and pecans are on top.
Now that the weather is getting warmer and shabbos is getting longer I like to make lots of salads. This recipe is a Chicken Strip Salad with Mexican dressing.
Can use left over chicken from last nights shabbos dinner or just boil some chicken or chicken breasts whichever you prefer. place a tostado with some tofutti sour cream and some avocado for a Mexican touch.
Depending on your taste, use the green chiles as noted or sparingly.
MEXICAN SALAD DRESSING
1/4 c. lemon juice
1/4 c. water
1/2 c. olive oil
1 sm. onion
2 fresh green chiles
3 sprigs parsley, fresh
2 cloves garlic
1 tsp. cilantro
1/2 tsp. cumin
Salt and pepper to taste
Put all ingredients in blender and blend until onion and pepper are chopped fine.
A great salad which I love is the Sauteed Onion Salad
2 tbl. Olive oil
1 red onion sliced
6 cups mixed greens
½ cup each of red, yellow peppers julienne(picture shown with only yellow)
¼ cup pine nuts toasted lightly
Dressing
3/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
2 tbl. Dijon mustard
2 teasp sugar
3 tabl. Capers
Blend dressing together and set aside. In small pan saute sliced onions in olive oil cool. Place rest of ingredients and pour dressing(amount to taste) over. Sprinkle with toasted pine nuts.
Shabbat Shalom!.
