General Overview: This week's double reading, Behar-Bechukotai,
speaks about the Sabbatical and Jubilee years, laws regulating commerce
and the redemption of slaves. It also contains a vivid description of
the rewards for observing G‑d's commandments and the series of
punishments that will befall us if we choose to disregard them. The
Torah then discusses different types of gifts given to the Temple, and
the animal tithe.
Aliya Summary: G‑d commands Moshe
regarding the Sh'mitah (Sabbatical) and Jubilee years. Every seventh
year is a Sabbatical year, when it is forbidden to work the land (in the
Land of Israel). After seven sets of seven years a Jubilee year is
proclaimed. During Jubilee years all the laws of the Sabbatical year
apply, and, in addition to the Sabbatical laws, all slaves are set free
and all lands revert to their original owners. We are commanded to
conduct business ethically. Since all land reverts to their original
owners during the Jubilee year, the amount of years remaining until the
next Jubilee year must be taken into account whenever a real-estate sale
is conducted, and the price should be set accordingly. The end of this
aliyah enjoins us not to verbally harass or intentionally mislead our
fellows.
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