B'har 5770

Parshah B'har
Leviticus 25:1-26:2 Jeremiah 32:6-32:27

(Note: This is not the Parsha for the week of 27 MAR to 2 APR 5771, I started attending in APR 5770 and didn't write commentaries for a month or so. My first commentaries were also very poor. I am therefore doing/redoing some short studies to complete my commentary when I convert in MAY 5771.)

B’har means on the mount. For G*d speaks to Moses on Mount Sinai so that more laws are revealed to the Israelites:

According to Sefer ha-Chinuch, there are 7 positive and 17 negative commandments in the parshah:

Not to work the land during the seventh year (Leviticus 25:4.)
Not to work with trees to produce fruit during that year (Leviticus 25:4.)
Not to reap crops that grow wild that year in the normal manner (Leviticus 25:5.)
Not to gather grapes which grow wild that year in the normal way (Leviticus 25:5.)
The Sanhedrin must count seven groups of seven years. (Leviticus 25:8.)
To blow the shofar on the tenth of Tishrei to free the slaves (Leviticus 25:9.)
The Sanhedrin must sanctify the 50th year. (Leviticus 25:10.)
Not to work the soil during the 50th year (Leviticus 25:11.)
Not to reap in the normal manner that which grows wild in the fiftieth year (Leviticus 25:11.)
Not to pick grapes which grew wild in the normal manner in the fiftieth year (Leviticus 25:11.)
To buy and sell according to Torah law (Leviticus 25:14.)
Not to overcharge or underpay for an article (Leviticus 25:14.)
Not to insult or harm anybody with words (Leviticus 25:17.)
Not to sell the land in Israel indefinitely (Leviticus 25:23.)
To carry out the laws of sold family properties (Leviticus 25:24.)
To carry out the laws of houses in walled cities (Leviticus 25:29.)
Not to sell the fields but they shall remain the Levites' before and after the Jubilee year (Leviticus 25:34.)
Not to lend with interest (Leviticus 25:37.)
Not to have a Hebrew servant do menial slave labor (Leviticus 25:39.)
Not to sell a Hebrew servant as a slave is sold (Leviticus 25:42.)
Not to work a Hebrew servant oppressively (Leviticus 25:43.)
Canaanite slaves must be kept forever (Leviticus 25:46.)
Not to allow a non-Jew to work a Hebrew servant oppressively (Leviticus 25:53.)
Not to bow down on smooth stone (Leviticus 26:1.)

(Sefer HaHinnuch: The Book of [Mitzvah] Education. Translated by Charles Wengrov, 3:363–461. Jerusalem: Feldheim Pub., 1984. ISBN 0-87306-297-3.)

As these seem pretty straight forward I have decided to roughly group them and address them turn.

Not to work the land during the seventh year (Leviticus 25:4.)
Not to work with trees to produce fruit during that year (Leviticus 25:4.)
Not to reap crops that grow wild that year in the normal manner (Leviticus 25:5.)
Not to gather grapes which grow wild that year in the normal way (Leviticus 25:5.)
The Sanhedrin must count seven groups of seven years. (Leviticus 25:8.)
Not to reap in the normal manner that which grows wild in the fiftieth year (Leviticus 25:11.)
Not to pick grapes which grew wild in the normal manner in the fiftieth year (Leviticus 25:11.)
To blow the shofar on the tenth of Tishrei to free the slaves (Leviticus 25:9.)
The Sanhedrin must sanctify the 50th year. (Leviticus 25:10.)
Not to work the soil during the 50th year (Leviticus 25:11.)

- This group applies to the Shmita or Sabbatical Year. I choose to understand it as representing the same ideals as the weekly Shabbat rest. These mostly consist of giving up doing things. That expresses a desire to acknowledge the creator and his gifts to us.


To buy and sell according to Torah law (Leviticus 25:14.)
Not to overcharge or underpay for an article (Leviticus 25:14.)
Not to insult or harm anybody with words (Leviticus 25:17.)
Not to sell the land in Israel indefinitely (Leviticus 25:23.)
To carry out the laws of sold family properties (Leviticus 25:24.)
To carry out the laws of houses in walled cities (Leviticus 25:29.)
Not to sell the fields but they shall remain the Levites' before and after the Jubilee year (Leviticus 25:34.)
Not to lend with interest (Leviticus 25:37.)

- These commandments apply to business ethics. The Torah is concerned to a fanatical extent with truth and justice. These precepts express human rights that were revolutionary. They strongly influence the ideals of the west today.

Not to have a Hebrew servant do menial slave labor (Leviticus 25:39.)
Not to sell a Hebrew servant as a slave is sold (Leviticus 25:42.)
Not to work a Hebrew servant oppressively (Leviticus 25:43.)
Canaanite slaves must be kept forever (Leviticus 25:46.)
Not to allow a non-Jew to work a Hebrew servant oppressively (Leviticus 25:53.)

- These mitzvot apply the uncomfortable subject of slavery amongst the Israelites. The institution is often excused by pointing out its liberal precepts in comparison to other forms of slavery at the time and in other cultures and historical periods. In many ways it is enigmatic. What I find most interesting is that negative commandments can be kept; without having to keep the institution at all. No slaves. No problem. Sadly, even without formal slavery so much of the world is in debt and indenture. G*d have mercy on all of us and may those that exploit others pay them back times seven.

And one just thrown in, “Not to bow down on smooth stone” (Leviticus 26:1.) Frankly, I think this is a bad translation. I believe it means any stone worked into an idol as the verse implies worshiping the stone itself.

Happy are those called to the mitzvot. G*d give us strength.