Dean: I\because this is a commandment you have to follow it because if you don't something bad will happen to you. You might get kicked out of the land, and your food will stop growing which could result in death.
Maya: You should still give to the poor and needy even if you do not have too much for yourself because it is the right thing to do. And, someday the favor will be returned to you.
Ben: If you do give money even if you are poor, you would get good karma. And if you don't give you don't get good karma. Because if you help somebody, it will make you feel good.
5782 is a Shmita year. What does that mean?
Sep 29, 2021 | By Abby S
During Rosh Hashanah 2021, we welcomed the beginning of the Hebrew year 5782. While it may feel like just another year, 5782 is a big deal in the Land of Israel — it is a shmita year.
What does shmita mean? How does this affect Jewish communities outside of Israel? Where does this shmita thing come from? We have the answers!
What is shmita?
Shmita (שמיטה) is a Hebrew word that literally translates to “release,” but colloquially, the shmita year refers to the seventh year in the agricultural harvest cycle that was determined by the Torah. Sometimes, this year is also called שביעית, or shevi’it, meaning seventh. There is also an entire tractate of the Talmud called Shevi’it, which goes more in-depth into the laws surrounding this special year.
What happens during the shmita year?
During the shmita year, Jewish law forbids all agricultural activity in the Land of Israel, including plowing, planting, pruning and harvesting. There are also many laws from the Mishnah and Tanakh that explain how fruit, vegetables, grains, and other produce that ripens and is harvested during the shmita year can be consumed, sold, and disposed of.
Just like the Torah commands the Jewish people to work for six days and rest on the seventh, the land is given a chance to rest and replenish itself on the seventh year.