Rabbi Chaim Lobel
(Leviticus; Chapter 25, Verse 20)
“If you will say in the seventh year what
are we going to eat? Behold we will not sow
and we will not gather our crop!” (Note:
This verse was translated according to the
Daas Zekeinim)
The Children of Israel were given a
Mitzvah of Shemittat Karkaot – a Sabbatical
of the Land. For six years, the Jewish
Nation would tend to their fields in the
land of Israel. On the seventh year, work
would cease and the land would rest. The
produce on the seventh year was free to all
and would only be gathered as needed.
Nachmandies (25:20) explains that
Israel “might” be afraid that on the eighth
year they would have nothing to eat; Israel
did not sow or plant their fields on the
seventh year. Nachmandies interprets this
understanding from the wording of the above
verse “If you will say...” Some people may
be afraid and ask the question – How will we
survive?
The Torah does answer the question,
“I (G-d) will ordain my blessing and you
will have sufficient crop for three years
(25:21).”
If G-d guarantees sufficient food in
the sixth year to last three years, why
would people still be afraid? Because that’s
human nature. Even when we know and trust G-d’s
guarantees, we can still fear the future.
Shabbat Shalom
