This Week’s Torah Portion: B’har – B’chukotai (Leviticus 25:1-27:34)
“Consecrate the fiftieth year and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants” (Leviticus 25:10).
The Torah is commanding us to make sure the human right for freedom will be kept in our land.
This pillar of our faith is engraved on the American liberty bell in Philadelphia, one of many wonderful gifts that our Torah and our tradition gave the world.
We end the book of Leviticus, and say the traditional blessing we need so much at this time, “May we be strong and continue to go from strength to strength”.
B’har – B’chukotai Summary:
God instructs Moses to tell the Israelites that in every seventh year, the land shall observe a Sabbath of complete rest: Fields should not be sown and vines should not be pruned. (25:1-7)
After forty-nine years, a jubilee year is to be celebrated when all the land that had been sold during that time should be returned to its original owners and slaves are to be freed. (25:8-55)
God instructs Moses to tell the Israelites not to make idols, to keep the sabbath, and to venerate the sanctuary of the Eternal. (26:1-2)
God promises blessings to the Children of Israel if they follow the law and warns about the curses that will befall the people if they do not observe God’s commandments. (26:1-46)
Gifts made to the Sanctuary whether by conditional vows or by unconditional acts of pious gratitude are discussed. (27:1-34)
