[Rabbi Yosef Gopin]

Dear Friends,

I am happy to restart the E-Torah discussions.   The first will be brief.

This week's Torah portion begins by telling us that G-d speaking to Moses on Mount Sinai, regarding the commandments of the sabbatical year.  Why was it necessary to say the commandments were given on Mt. Sinai?   All commentaries ask: Weren't all commandments given on Mt. Sinai?  

Rashi answers that this mitzvah is a model to all others.  Just as it is specified that it was given on Mt. Sinai, so all other mitzvot were given on Mt. Sinai.

The question remains, why was this mitzvah chosen to represent the others.  The sabbatical year is only relevant to those living in the land of Israel, and only happens every seven year.   Why didn't the Torah pick a mitzvah relevant to all, everywhere, all the time?

The sabbatical year teaches us a very fundamental principle - it creates a trust in G-d.  Even when we don't work in the field, it will produce more than in a regular year.  Therefore, in the sabbatical year, we are not allowed to work in the field, we must leave it open to all, and thus we declare that the whole world belongs to G-d and He is in charge and dominates every detail in the world.  That is why this mitzvah was picked to represent the others.

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Joseph I. Gopin
Chabad House of Greater Hartford