Shemittah - Overview - I

The Mitzvos of Shmittah (the Sabbatical year) and Yovel (Jubilee) encompass a broad range of concepts to the extent that they alter the very character of the life of the Jewish Nation. There is almost no area in the national life that is not influenced by the Year of Shemittah and the Year of Yovel. All of commerce, society, physical and spiritual life undergo numerous changes during these years which testifies to the great depth that is hidden with these Mitzvos. Prior to addressing them in detail, we will point out what is unique about these public Mitzvos.

The Jewish Nation is one entity, one powerful and holy Neshama that is revealed by every member of the Nation. The source of holiness of each Jew is the overarching Neshama of the Jewish Nation, the Holy Schechina. A person does not live as an individual and cannot sanctify himself without a relationship to the Jewish Nation, just as a capillary has no life unless it is attached to an artery. Since we are born into a world in which each individual feels his individuality, and feels that his life is not connected to everyone else, it is difficult to grasp this concept. We accept the yoke of Mitzvos with an attitude that it is our own personal pursuit, we express our Judaism through our own Mitzvah fulfillment, we stand alone before God, are responsible for our own life in this world and the World to Come, with no connection to the rest of the people.

It is not easy to feel the truth - that we are one nation, one entity and that all the Mitzvos done by each individual are incorporated within the Divine service of the entire Nation. Together they increase the light of the Schechina and the soul of each individual and the entire nation. When performing a specific Mitzvah, like Tzitzis or Tefillin it is difficult to feel a connection with another. "I am doing this Mitzvah and receiving a reward, and he is wearing Tefillin and getting his reward. There is no connection between my Tefillin and his Tefillin." Naturally, a person will make sure that he has the nicest possible Tefillin for himself, but won't concern himself that someone else should have the nicest Tefillin. All this results from not feeling a real connection between the performance of Mitzvos and one's spiritual life. It seems that everyone is climbing his own stairway to heaven, and will get his own eternal reward for his actions. Superficially, there is no connection between the spiritual efforts of my friend and my lot in life.