Tyler’s Torah Thoughts for 15 Iyar, 5784 –Day 30 of Omer
Parsha Be-Har – “On The Mountain” (Leviticus 25:1 – 26:2)
Fifth Portion: Leviticus 25:29 – 25:38
Good morning! Today is the 30th Day of the Omer. We have discussed how much this moon cycle of Iyar is special – every day is a Holy day! Each day counts! Yesterday, we had the second Passover. In three days? We celebrate Lag B’Omer – which is the 33rd Day of the Omer. This is Saturday night at sundown until Sunday night at sundown. What is Lag B’Omer? It is a day to celebrate the Rabbi who wrote the “Zohar” – one of the important teachings/writings within Judaism. The beauty of Lag B’Omer? Is it is always celebrated on the 18th Day of Iyar. Those of you familiar understand 18 represents LIFE – Chai! And the idea of celebrating this day with Fire, parties, etc? Is BEAUTIFUL!
For today, lets focus on the 30th day of the Omer! Today’s theme is the discipline (or strength) of Humility.
From Chabad:
Humility must be disciplined and focused. When should my humility cause me to compromise and when not? In the name of humility do I sometimes remain silent and neutral in the face of wickedness?
Another aspect of gevurah of hod: Humility must include respect and awe for the person or experience you stand humble for. If my humility is wanting, is it because I don’t respect another?
Exercise for the day: Focus in on your reluctance in any given area to see if it originates from a healthy, humble place.
I love this idea. Often times we worry about our humility causing us to be a doormat. To let people walk all over us. True love as it relates to humility? Comes from a place of strength. Of boundaries. Of protection. For our own dignity and the dignity of others. This is the idea of “awe” which connects both an excitement for and a fear of. It’s a mixture of this deep respect. If I am reluctant to show humility, can I be curious as to why? Is it because of my own dignity? This is a place to start!
In this spirit, let’s dig into the Torah! We continue to discuss property rights – buying and selling. I feel connected to this idea as our “house” is always within us.
29And when a man sells a residential house in a walled city, its redemption may take place until the completion of the year of its sale. Its [period of] redemption shall be a full year.
30But if it is not redeemed by the end of a complete year, then that house which is in the city that has a wall, shall remain permanently [the property] of the one who purchased it throughout his generations. It will not leave [his possession] in the Jubilee.
Welcome to the Torah version of the “gated community.” In a gated community (walled city), the seller has one year to redeem the property. That’s it. It isn’t subject to return during Jubilee.
Why?
My belief is this is because of the idea of roots. Permanence. If you put a wall around a city, the intention is there to stay. In those days, you wouldn’t build a wall to protect the city and enclose a community unless there was a desire to not leave. If you sell property within, the trust of living within that community is established, and having a family leave the community during a jubilee year would disrupt that community. This makes a lot of sense to me.
And. There is a choice here, right? They had not yet LIVED in walled cities – this was a pre-warning. It is hard for us to fathom today. And. Something to consider. Would you desire to live in a gated community? And? Would that begin to feel like a prison? Let’s keep going:
31But houses in open cities, which do not have a wall surrounding them, are to be considered as the field of the land. It may have redemption and shall leave [the purchaser’s possession] in the Jubilee.
This also makes sense. Because it is about farming and fields.
32And, [regarding] the cities of the Levites, the houses of their inherited cities shall forever have a [right of] redemption for the Levites.
33And if one purchases from the Levites, whether a house or an inherited city, will leave [the possession of the purchaser] in the Jubilee, because the houses of the cities of the Levites, are their inherited property amidst the children of Israel.
34And a field in the open areas of their cities cannot be sold, because it is their eternal inheritance.
SO the priests? They had special protections. They could not be kept permanently from the Levites. They had a permanent claim to the land for redemption.
35If your brother becomes destitute and his hand falters beside you, you shall support him [whether] a convert or a resident, so that he can live with you.
36You shall not take from him interest or increase, and you shall fear your God, and let your brother live with you.
37You shall not give him your money with interest, nor shall you give your food with increase.
This is also interesting. If a child of Israel – whether a convert or resident becomes destitute? The community shall support him. This is a tremendous value for a community. For members to feel safe. Knowing that if things go badly? They will be taken care of – and restored to health.
We miss that in our society. I think.
38I am the Lord, your God, Who took you out of the land of Egypt, to give you the land of Canaan, to be a God to you.
Today’s passage closes with a reminder – who is really in charge. Hashem brought us into freedom. And. Freedom is not just “do what you want.” Freedom has boundaries – and this is why we struggle with this idea.
Boundaries are meant to keep us safe within our freedom. And. They can begin to feel like a prison. We need to explore this feeling when we encounter boundaries – and the source of the feelings. Are the limits of the boundaries established for our freedom there for our rest and safety? Or are they there to control us?
What are your thoughts?
Here are my thoughts from two years ago:
Tyler’s Torah Thoughts for 18 Iyar, 5782
Today is the 33rd day of the Omer! It’s Lag B’Omer!!!
Today is supposed to be a break from the solemn time between Passover and Shavuot- May today be a joyous celebration for us all on our continued journeys of freedom and liberation!
Let’s dig into the Torah!
Today’s portion is about commerce and the impact of the jubilee.
Yesterday we talked about redemption of property when someone becomes destitute, and needs to sell their hereditary land.
Today’s portion tells us there is a difference between hereditary land and hereditary land with property on it (in a walled city).
Hereditary land may not be redeemed within two years of its sale.
However, if someone Sells hereditary land with property on it in a walled city, it may be redeemed until one year after its sale. If the house is not redeemed by the seller within that first year, the purchases keeps the land forever – even beyond the jubilee!
I’m chewing on this. I think as I reflect on myself – there are parts of me that are undeveloped – and those can be given away or sold to others and I can redeem them and they are mine.
But when I’ve developed myself; and then give myself away (or sell myself to someone in a relationship) it will be impossible to redeem myself. I just think in terms of relationships.
If you are aware of what is happening, it’s sold forever. If you are unaware (undeveloped) there can be restoration.
Curious as to what others think about this.
Then we discover – if there is property on land that is not surrounded by a wall; it can be redeemed in the jubilee.
I would like then to work we are doing on ourselves to develop ourselves; but we haven’t quite had the opportunity to build the wall of protection. It’s still in its infancy.
Next we jump into priestly cities – cities given to the Levites.
Basically Levites forever have a right of redemption forever. And it will always return during a jubilee year.
So priestly work can forever be redeemed. We can always come back and do the work!
Finally, todays portion ends with discussion around taking interest.
If a person among us becomes needy, and their hand is wavering, we should support them before they become completely destitute. Even if they are a convert or a resident non-Jewish alien. The ONLY time we are not called to support someone is if they worship idols.
We should not take interest because this is a “double sin.” The Torah says this will be difficult, but we need to trust Hashem.
We are called not to lend money with interest – nor lend food with interest. As children of Hashem- we are called to serve and love others. With no expectation of gain on our part!
What are your thoughts on today portion?
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