Parashat ha-Shavua

Leviticus 25:1-26:2; Jeremiah 32:6-27; Luke 4:16-21 This Shabbat we read the portion of Behar. The portion begins with the words “Hashem spoke to Moshe at Mount Sinai and said the following.” Although the entire Torah was given on Mount Sinai, the Torah mentions Mount Sinai in a limited number of instances. Introducing the portion by mentioning Mount Sinai teaches that the lessons of this portion are relevant to the entire Torah that was given on Mount Sinai. The Mitzvah that is discussed in the beginning of the portion is Shemittah. In Israel, every seventh year is the Sabbatical year, during which it is forbidden to perform any agricultural labor. After enumerating all of the prohibitions, the Torah poses a question: “And if you will ask, what will we eat in the seventh year? I will command my blessing in the sixth year and there will be a food for three years”.