Shemittah is an elevator that lifts us to a higher experience of life than that which we experience on a daily basis. Generally speaking each person exists within his own personal experience of life. He worries about his family's financial needs. The underlying concept is that each person lives his own life and everyone else is a stranger. This finds its expression throughout the full gamut of economic activity. If I have something of value I will not give it away unless I receive something of value in return. Each person needs money and property. This world is predicated upon financial needs in which each man is for himself. Without working and making money a person can't feed his family.
This creates a situation in which everyone else is outside of one's own circle of need. One's own needs are primary, those of others are pushed into a corner. Conflict arises between store owners and customers, manufacturers and retailers, and people fighting over the right to purchase limited resources. There is constant strife to be first in line, to be most successful etc.
Negative character traits emanate from this reality. People see others as aggressive and trying to take what is their's. People plot, act deceitfully, steal and take advantage of others. The government then needs to legislate to counter these tendencies.
Shemittah opposes this worldview. Each person is commanded to abandon his focus on his personal success. Rather than make money from selling his field's produce, he is told to turn it all over to the public. Open the doors of your private property and allow everyone to feel at home. Release all debts. Stop being focused on "I" and stop worrying about your's and your family's financial advancement. Broaden your circle of life until it includes others as well. Just as you feed your family from your field each year, you offer others the same opportunity this year. Everyone is one big family. Everyone is equal. This is what the Torah asks of us during Shemittah.
Shemittah appears to be a big burden. It is a huge demand that we would be happy to give up. It seems unnatural to stop worrying about yourself, to fight against that tendency and to give yourself over to the needs of the public. It seems that the six years are "normal" life, and Shemittah is an abnormal temporary unnatural state.
But if you have a deeper understanding you will know that the opposite is the truth. Shemittah is the expression of the normal state of man.
This creates a situation in which everyone else is outside of one's own circle of need. One's own needs are primary, those of others are pushed into a corner. Conflict arises between store owners and customers, manufacturers and retailers, and people fighting over the right to purchase limited resources. There is constant strife to be first in line, to be most successful etc.
Negative character traits emanate from this reality. People see others as aggressive and trying to take what is their's. People plot, act deceitfully, steal and take advantage of others. The government then needs to legislate to counter these tendencies.
Shemittah opposes this worldview. Each person is commanded to abandon his focus on his personal success. Rather than make money from selling his field's produce, he is told to turn it all over to the public. Open the doors of your private property and allow everyone to feel at home. Release all debts. Stop being focused on "I" and stop worrying about your's and your family's financial advancement. Broaden your circle of life until it includes others as well. Just as you feed your family from your field each year, you offer others the same opportunity this year. Everyone is one big family. Everyone is equal. This is what the Torah asks of us during Shemittah.
Shemittah appears to be a big burden. It is a huge demand that we would be happy to give up. It seems unnatural to stop worrying about yourself, to fight against that tendency and to give yourself over to the needs of the public. It seems that the six years are "normal" life, and Shemittah is an abnormal temporary unnatural state.
But if you have a deeper understanding you will know that the opposite is the truth. Shemittah is the expression of the normal state of man.
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