Parasha Thoughts
By Rabbi Shemuel Akhamzadeh
וּקְרָ××ªÖ¶Ö¥× ×“Ö°Ö¼×¨Ö›×•Ö¹×¨ בָּ×ָ֖רֶץ לְכָל־יֹשְ×בֶ֑יהָ
This week’s portion, Parashat B’Har, starts with the basic laws of Shemita and Yovel which are largely similar. One distinct difference between them is in regards to the freedom of the Hebrew slaves in the Yovel year. The slaves were either sold by choice due to their economic hardship or by the Bet-Din- court if they had been caught stealing and were unable to repay. (The maximum term for a Hebrew slave is until Shmita – the 7th year cycle in the Hebrew calendar , but in certain circumstances the slave was able to extend it until Yovel – the 50th year). The verse states, “Proclaim liberty throughout the land unto all the inhabitants thereof.†We understand it to mean that the slaves should be freed in the Yovel year throughout the land.
Rabbi Dr. Abraham Twersky asks an obvious question in the name of the Pene Yehushua (Poland 1680–1756). We know the phenomenon of the Hebrew slave was a rare occurrence throughout our history, and at most these slaves made up a trivial portion of society. If so, why does the Torah command all the inhabitants to be freed, as if this is a national event?
Pene Yehushua himself answers with a profound
psychological insight that applies to every one of us. Slavery not only robs freedom from the slave, it is also a type of servitude for the slave master. Talmud- Kiddushin 20a tells us that one who obtains a slave has acquired a master over himself. The most absolute type of slavery is when one is a slave to his/ her own ego, is domineering, and controls others. A truly free man has no need to control others. Indeed, a healthy minded person recognizes the colossal job of self-mastery, and if one is busy with that task he will not have the time or even the energy to dominate others.
Shabbat Shalom.