Parshat Behar-Behukotai; Leviticus 25:1 – Leviticus 27:34 by Rabbi Denise Eger

We come to the end of the book of Leviticus with this double portion, Behar-Behukotai. It begins with a discussion of the sabbatical year for the land of Israel. These laws are applicable only in Eretz Yisrael. It moves from the sabbatical year to a discussion of the Jubiliee year—the 50th year—a cycle of seven –sabbatical years. The jubilee year is most interesting because part of the jubilee is a redistribution of the land. Even if the land has been sold to someone else. The land reverts back to its original owners. This is an amazing ideal. The original land of Israel was divided into tribal territories. Thus the land even if sold, belongs to the original tribe. This teaches us a very powerful lesson. The land doesn’t really belong to us but to God! The Torah portion states, “But the land must not be sold beyond reclaim, for the land is Mine; you are but strangers resident with me. Throughout the land that you hold, you must provide for the redemption of the land.” (Lev. 25:23-24). How many of us today attribute our wealth to God? God is the ultimate Real Estate Developer and we are but tenants! Just as God redeemed us from slavery in Egypt—so we must redeem the land for God.

Another interesting issue connected to the Jubilee is the freedom granted to Hebrew slaves. If they are Israelites who had to sell themselves into slavery because of debt, then they go free in a Jubilee year. “You shall proclaim release throughout the land.” (Lev. 25:10). The voice of God in the text is very clear. God didn’t free us from servitude and slavery in Egypt to be enslaved to another person. “For they are My servants, whom I freed from the land of Egypt; they may not give themselves over into servitude.” (Lev. 25:42). And the Israelite who had a Hebrew slave or servant is also commanded to let him go free.

Further if you know of an Israelite who is enslaved or is an indebted servant, his family members must try to redeem him from the servitude. But even if his family can’t, he goes free in the Jubilee year in the land of Israel! God emphasizes in the text. “For it is to Me that the Israelites are servants; they are My servants, whom I freed from the land of Egypt, I Adonai your God. (Lev. 25:55).”\

This portion makes clear our relationship to God. We have an epecial duty to serve God and put God at the center of our lives. Our covenant and way of life demand this. If we are serving others, God can hardly come first. This is no than less idol worship.

Today most of us put so many other things and people at the center of our lives. God takes a huge backseat. Judaism takes a huge back seat. But perhaps that is one reason our lives our more complicated and more difficult than ever. Our priorities are perhaps not in the right order. We work to buy more things, rarely giving a thought to the question of what God wants from us? We don’t attribute God’s presence to the successes in our lives. We serve our bosses, our families but rarely do we serve God.

This Torah portion challenges us to put God back at our core! As we approach the holiday of Shavuot, that commemorates the giving of Torah at Mt. Sinai, this might be a good season to imagine ourselves there, receiving the Torah into our own lives and hands. Perhaps when we can truly see ourselves at the foot of the mountain then God might be central once again.

Posted by Lee at May 15, 2006 09:31 AM