Behar
Rabbi Jablinowitz
We read in this week’s parsha the laws of Shemittah and Yovel. The Medrash Rabbah in the beginning of sefer Vayikra quotes a pasuk from Tehillim (Chapter 103, Pasuk 20), Barchu Hashem Mal’achav, Giborei Koach Osei Devaro, Lishmo’ah B’Kol Devaro. Bless Hashem, His angels, those of great strength who fulfill His word, who listen to His word. The Medrash understands that the term Malachav, or angels, does not mean angels literally, but rather is a reference to certain unique individuals in this world who fulfill their task like angels. The Medrash then brings in the name of Rabbi Yitzchak, B’Shomrei Shevi’is HaKasuv Medaber. The people of great strength referred to in the pasuk are those who keep Shemittah. When they see their fields barren and others coming to eat and they remain silent, these are people of great strength.
The first pasuk in our parsha begins by stating that Gd commanded the mitzvah of Shemittah to Bnei Yisrael at Har Sinai. Rashi comments by quoting the famous words of Chazal, Mah Inyan Shemittah Eitzel Har Sinai. What is the connection between Shemittah specifically and Har Sinai, all the mitzvoth were given at Har Sinai. Rather, answers Rashi, just as all the details and particulars of Shemittah were given at Sinai, so too the details and particulars of all the other mitzvoth as well.
The Sfas Emes learns that the connection between Shemittah and Har Sinai is to be understood on a much deeper level. The Medrash we quoted above brings another p’shat on the pasuk of Giborei Koach. Rav Huna in the name of Rav Acha brings that the pasuk is a reference to Bnei Yisrael at Har Sinai. This is why the pasuk says, Osei Devaro, Lishmo’ah B’Kol Devaro. First the pasuk says Osei, and then it brings Lishmo’ah; Na’aseh V’Nishmah. This pasuk is a reference to Bnei Yisrael accepting to perform the mitzvoth of the Torah before they even hear what they are.
The Gemara in Shabbos 88A brings in the name of Rabbi Elazar a similar idea. When Bnei Yisrael said Na’aseh before Nishmah at Har Sinai, a Bas Kol went out and said, Me Gilah L’Banai Raz Zeh SheMalachei HaShareis mishtamshim Bo. Who revealed to My children the secret employed by the angels as expressed in the pasuk in Tehillim, Osei Devaro Lishmo’ah B’Kol Devaro.
We see from this Gemara and the statement of Rav Huna in the Medrash, that when Bnei Yisrael stood at Har Sinai, they became like angels. This is expressed by Bnei Yisrael accepting to perform the mitzvoth before hearing what they were. For angels have a particular task to perform and are totally focused and dedicated on fulfilling that function. They have no existence independent of their task and this is why they are called Malachim, which means messengers. This was the level of Bnei Yisrael at Har Sinai.
Angels receive their entire sustenance from Gd since they are totally dependent and subservient to Him. They are sustained from the Ziv HaShechinah, which is also the reward of the righteous in the world to come. Similarly, before the sin of Adam Harishon, man was sustained and fed from Gan Eiden. It was only after the sin of Adam Harishon that the punishment of B’Zeiyas Apecha Tochal Lechem was given. So that when Bnei Yisrael were standing at Har Sinai like angels, they returned to their previous status and were ready to be fed spiritually from “Lechem min HaShamayim” from the mahn. And according to Rabbi Akiva in Yoma 75B, the mahn is called Lechem Abirim, Lechem SheMalachei HaShareis Ochlim Oso, the bread eaten by angels.
Even afterward Bnei Yisrael periodically return to that status at Har Sinai. This happens every week on Shabbos when we are totally dedicated to Avodas Hashem and Torah. This is why our eating on Shabbos is done in holiness, B’Kedushah. And we return to this status as well during Shemittah and Yovel. Shemittah is called Shabbos Shabbason, it is a period when our eating is done in holiness. It is a time when we are totally dependent on Hashem and have faith and bitachon that our sustenance will be maintained despite not working the land.
The statements of Rabbi Yitzchak and Rav Huna in the Medrash complement each other. According to Rabbi Yitzchak, the pasuk of Barchu Hashem Mal’achav, Giborei Koach is a reference to the Shomrei Shevi’is. When Bnei Yisrael keep Shemittah, they are like angels. They are totally focused on the mitzvah of Shemittah, just like angels are totally focused on their particular mission. There is no involvement in the physical world to distract us from our task. The land lies fallow; no plowing, no harvesting, etc. And we are totally dependent on Hashem for our food. Our ability to eat while not working is nothing short of a miracle.
And this is the significance of the statement of Rav Huna as well. The pasuk of Barchu Hashem Mal’achav, Giborei Koach also refers to the state of Bnei Yisrael at Har Sinai. At Har Sinai we were singularly focused on receiving the Torah to the point of being willing to fulfill before knowing. We were like angels and able to eat from the mahn, the Lechem min Hashamayim.
We return to this state every week on Shabbos, and every seventh year on Shemittah. On Shabbos we eat despite the fact that we don’t work and don’t cook and our eating is Oneg Shabbos. And on Shemittah we stop working and yet we eat, which as we said, is a miracle, relying exclusively on Hashem. And this return to our previous status is best illustrated on Yovel. On Yovel, the pasuk says (Chapter 25, Pasuk 10), V’Shavtem Ish el Achuzaso V’Ish el Mishpachto Tashuvu. This freedom of returning is a return to our previous state at Har Sinai.
The Rambam in Hilchos Shemittah V’Yovel, Chapter 10, Halacha 14 describes the state of the slaves on Yovel after Rosh Hashanah but before the shofar is blown on Yom Kippur. Before they return home, the slaves eat and drink in joy and “Atroseihem B’Rasheihem”, their crowns are on their head. This is a term the Rambam uses in Hilchos Teshuva, Chapter 8, Halacha 2 to describe the state of the righteous in Olam Haba, a state of knowledge and connection to Hashem. This is the ultimate return to our connection to Hashem and being Neheneh M’Ziv HaShechinah just like the angels. So that when we are strong like angels and keep the mitzvah of Shemittah and Yovel, we are returning to our state at Har Sinai when we received the Torah like angels. And this, explains the Sfas Emes, is the real connection between Shemittah and Har Sinai.
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