09 May PARASHAT BEHAR: LETTING THE BLESSING FLOW

Parashat Behar
discusses the
fascinating Misva
of Shemita, which
requires abstaining
from all agricultural work in Eretz Yisrael
every seventh year. Additionally, all
produce that grows in the seventh year may
not be harvested and stored by the owners,
and must instead be left for anybody who
wishes to take it.
The Torah anticipated that people might
wonder how they could survive observing
such a command: “If you say, ‘What shall
we eat in the seventh year, given that we
will not plant or collect our produce?’”
(25:20). G-d responds: “I shall command
My blessing for you in the sixth year, and
[the land] shall yield produce for the three
years – you will plant in the eighth year and
feed off the old produce until the ninth year,
when its produce arrives…” (25:21-22).
In other words, the Torah is telling the
people: “Work less, and you’ll earn more.”
To put this into terms we can relate to,
imagine a businessman closing his store for
an entire year, and being guaranteed that he
will earn greater profits this way. Business
will be so good in the sixth year, before the

store closes for the seventh, that the owner
will be even better off by closing for the
seventh year than if he would if he remains
open for that year.
Of course, no business consultant would
ever recommend such a strategy for
increasing revenue.
And this is precisely the message of
Shemita – that it is Hashem, and not our
business endeavors, that brings us our
livelihood. The Torah commands the people
to do something that should, by natural
causes, result in financial ruin, assuring
them that it will bring them great prosperity,
instead – thereby reinforcing the belief
that although we are required to work hard
to earn a living, the success of our work
depends solely and entirely on G-d, as
it is He, and only He, who brings us our
sustenance.
We might ask, however, why does G-d
say in the verses cited above that He will
“command” His blessing during the sixth
year to sustain the people? A “command”
refers to something which could meet with
resistance, that people might not want to do.
How is this term appropriate when speaking
about G-d’s blessing? Does G-d need to
“command” His blessing?

A powerful explanation to this verse was
suggested by Rav Elimelech of Lizhensk
(1717-1786). He noted that the question,
“What shall we eat in the seventh year?”
is, in truth, misguided. After all, G-d fed
Beneh Yisrael manna for forty years in the
desert, when they had no fields at all and
were completely incapable of producing
their own food. He brought ten miraculous
plagues upon the Egyptians, and split the
sea to allow Beneh Yisrael to cross. For
that matter, He created the universe. Is
there any question that He could sustain
us if we don’t work the land once in seven
years? Compared to other things G-d has
done and does, this is no big deal at all. The
farmer who asked, “What shall we eat in
the seventh year?” should never have asked
such a question, because it is obvious that
G-d can provide sustenance regardless of
how much or how little the farmer works.
And for this reason, Rav Elimelech
explained, G-d responds that He will
“command” His blessing. If the people don’t
ask this question, and trust that Hashem
will provide for them, then the blessing
flows naturally. But when they lack faith,
and they begin worrying and wondering
how they will survive, then Hashem has
to “command” the blessing. Anxiety about

our livelihood causes a “blockage” in the
pipelines of blessing, and thus G-d needs
to “push” His blessing through the blocked
pipes. This is the meaning of the phrase, “I
shall command My blessing.”
If we want the blessing to flow, we should
place our full trust in the Almighty’s ability
and kindness. We must believe that He can
and wants to care for us and support us, that
we don’t need to worry, that no matter what
the circumstances are, He will provide our
needs. Although we must be responsible
and put in the effort to support ourselves,
we must place our trust in G-d and realize
that ultimately, He provides our livelihood
and is always there helping us. If we live
with this faith, then we will never need to
worry, and will always feel confident and
secure that our needs are being cared for.