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Bs”d

Bahar

Our parsha begins and Yhvh spoke to moshe in Mount Sinai. Then there follows instruction from God concerning the smittah (7th) year, laws concerning slaves, laws concerning protecting and providing for the poor. To begin with we must ask why does this part of the Torah begin with the words In Mount Sinai?. Wasnt all the Torah given at Sinai ?. There is a very important lesson to learn here. We could say that all these laws in a sense are In mount Sinai. The place of the Chuchmah of God. His creative inspiration. The projection of the voice of the Elohem Chyim (Living God). In the middle of our parsha is the law against taking interest. The prophet Isaih says He has taken interest. Shall he live ?. He shall not live. The Sages say this refers to the world to come. This also refers to the aspect of the soul called Chayah . This aspect reveals Chuchmah (creative inspiration). It is because of this aspect that Rashi explains that the wicked are dead while they are still living in this world. While the righteous are alive even when their physical existence ceases. Life is only when one is enlivened by the revelation of the part of their soul called Chayah (living). Which is Divine inspiration. The law forbidding taking interest on a loan is central in our parsha. As its violation in a sense is a violation of the most central basis of the Torah to promote as Rabbi Miller says a happy commonwealth. This happens when all people work together to help one another, not in competition against one another.

In this parsha is also given the law of yovel (50th year). In this year all land returns to its original owner. Rabbi miller explains that this is to prevent homelessness. As each Jew is Given a portion in the land by God. Rabbi Bergstien once said that before a person can approach revelation of Divine thought, have a relationship of love with God. They must first love the creatures He created. They must act in a righteous way in the matters of this world. Rebuke over matters such as this is a major theme of the prophets. As error in these ways destroys the foundation for a relationship with God, God forbid. Isaiah says

Woe to those who join house to house and field to field, they draw close till there is no place (for the poor) (5:8). Jeremiyah says

For wicked men are found among my people, they lie in wait as a trap bites. They station an ambush, they catch people. As a cage is full so are their houses full of deceit. They have become great, they have become rich. They have become fat, they have become thick. They also transgress in deeds of wickedness, they dont plead the cause of the orphan that they should prosper. The judgment of the poor they will not judge (5:26) Amos says:

Who aspire on the dust of the Earth concerning the head of the poor (2:7)

the head of the poor Rashi explains that all their aspiration on the earth is how they will exploit the poor. Michah says They oppress men (2:2). Zacharia says So said YHVH TSAVAOT saying, execute true judgment and perform loving kindness and mercy, each one of you to his brother. Do not oppress the widow, the orphan, the stranger or the poor man (7:9-10)

Malachi says I will approach you for judgment, and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against those who swore falsely, and also against those who withhold the wages of the day laborers, of the widow and the fatherless, and those who pervert the rights of the stranger, dont you fear me says YHVH TSAVOAT (3:5). These are just a few of their words. The prophets warn us greatly concerning our give and take while in this world. The parsha concludes after giving these economic laws with You shall not make any idols. The love of our fellow creatures is basic to act in any other way is as having a strange God. They have made a idol. The parsha finishes saying You shall keep my Shabot. Shabot is Time of the revelation of Chuchmah (creative inspiration). Which is the inheritance of those who act in love towards all creatures following the laws of the Torah day in and out till that we reach the day that will be all Shabot with the arrival of our righteous Mashiach quickly in our days.