Torah Talk for Parashat Behar
May 24, 2016 by
In this parasha, God tells Moshe to instruct the people on the laws of the Sabbatical and Jubilee years, as well as on how to relate to those in the community who become impoverished.
Anyone who has visited the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia (including all those who have passed through our fifth grade) knows that it contains a verse from this week’s parasha (chapter 25, verse 10): U’kratem dror ba’aretz – “proclaim liberty throughout the land.”
This is one of many examples of a verse taken out of context and used for a different purpose. The verse refers to the Israelites proclaiming the Jubilee year, during which all land reverts back to its original owners, all those in servitude go free, and the land lies fallow for a second consecutive year.
The verse itself is quite interesting. Read more >
