Parashat Behar

I’ve often said that being a rabbi is a bit like being James Bond. My license, however does not permit me to kill at will (although I have been known to give a few lethal looks to my children now and then..), but rather to say the “G” word with impunity, without revealing my political hand.
Face it, in most modern Jewish, politically
correct professional circles, regular talk about G-d or the Bible would cause many to look askance at the speaker, revealing the offender to be some fanatical, right wing holy roller.
One could minimize the fallout if, in casual conversation, one would say “Torah”, instead of “Bible”, or exchange the “G” word for The Creator, or Sovereign of the Universe. They might then be able to escape with just a head roll, or a nervous laugh.

Still, to many people, the Bible is an organ of the conservative segment of our population, stressing family values, the joys of heterosexuality, and law and order.

Is the Torah a right wing publication?
Why, just last week we read about ‘an eye for an eye” (Lev. 24:20), and the capital punishment of the blasphemer! (Lev. 24:14)
(of course, we all know that an “eye for an eye” means monetary compensation based on the severity of the injury, and that capital punishment, which required warnings, was hardly ever meted out…)

But, consider the source of “…Love your neighbor as yourself..” (Lev 19.18), “…Be kind to widows and orphans…” (Ex. 22:22), “…Leave the corners of your field for the poor…” (Lev 23:22). and “Be kind to your enemies. Do good to those who hate you”. (Ex.23:4-5)

These legislated acts of kindness do seem to have a liberal outlook, no?

This week’s parasha gives us even further insight into the politics of the Torah. Every seventh year the land must rest. All privately owned land in the Holy Land is open to all, it’s produce free for all. (Lev. 25:4-5).
In addition, the fields may not be sown on the seventh year.
Contrary to popular belief, this mitzvah is not designed to rest the fields for replenishing minerals, etc, as a regular crop rotation would accomplish that, without a national “cease planting” in effect.
Rather, it underscores the vulnerability of the Jewish people, and their absolute dependence on G-d.

At the end of seven such seven year agricultural cycles, after the 49th year, there is a special Yovel (jubilee year), which shares many of the restrictions of the aforementioned sabbatical year. That’s two in a row! In addition, at the time of the Yovel, all land reverts back to the original owner, and all indentured servants go home, free.
Think about it- no matter how much land one could acquire as a result of sound business practices during the previous 49 years, all was returned.
Redistribution of wealth?
Pretty left wing…

Actually, the Torah is teaching us that the possessions were never ours at all. “…For the land is Mine, for you are merely foreigners and temporary residents before me.” (Lev 25:23).

Would our madness of striving to obtain success and material wealth be tempered if we knew that all would be returned in time, that we would revert back to our previous economic state? Would we slow down, spend a little more time with our families, read a few more books, drink a little more wine?

This is the time of year when we are in the midst of a miniature holy cycle of time, as we count the 49 days and 7 complete weeks leading up to our holiday of Shavuot, celebrating the receiving of the Torah at Mt. Sinai.

Although we can indeed receive the Torah each and every day, Shavuot can be a wonderful time to press the reset button, and see and hear the Word anew, politically unencumbered. We can revert back to our former optimism, free ourselves of all of our dysfunctional biblical baggage that prevents us from truly being free to live our lives in partnership with our creator.

Our Torah is unparalleled in describing the potential of all people, but the potential can only be realized when we accept the terms of the agreement.

May this year bring us even closer
to making partner.

Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Greg