This week’s parashah is Behar-Bechukotai and, to sum it up, G-d is explaining to Moses the laws of the sabbatical year – every seventh year all work on the land should stop and the produce becomes free for the taking for man and beast, and every fiftieth year all work on the land stops, indentured servants are free… and more rules. G-d promises prosperity if you follow his rules, and exile if you don’t. But, although you will be exiled, he explains that he will not cast you away, destroy you, or break his covenant with you if you don’t follow his rules.
Similar to Shabbat, these rules remind us to take a breath and evaluate what we have. Those that have land and are working hard for 6 years can lose sight of how lucky they are. When the 7th year comes, it is almost like a breath of fresh air. You can look back to recognize and appreciate what you have. Paralleling Shabbat where you can look back on the last 6 days, this is a time where you can look back on the last 6 years and take a second, or a year, to think back. Whether it’s learning from your mistakes, remembering good times, or taking the time to spend with people you love, G-d reminds us to give ourselves this time to reflect. Although it’s cliché, graduation is also a time of reflection. As we are all sad about leaving this incredible city and the Chabad that we all love, it can also be a time of appreciation. In the last 4 years we’ve done a lot of work and this summer, hopefully, we’ll be able to stop for a few months before beginning our jobs. And if you’re starting right away after college, I hope you don’t get exiled. Although it might not be the exact sabbatical year, it can be considered a more modern sabbatical summer. But either way, it is a time of reflection of the last four years to recognize how lucky we have been to have attended such an amazing university, find such great friends, and create incredible memories.
For more information on this Torah portion click here and here.
