Miya: I think that its a really good idea for the land to rest. And for us to be mindful of where we get out food, even if it doesn't come from Israel. It also gives you more time to think about prayer and study and to be with family and friends. I think it is a really good thing to have this and that people outside of the land of Israel could also have they can have an impact.
Jackson: Just as people have the Shabbat, the land has the Shmita years. You work for six days and then when Shabbat comes it is over. The land is being worked for six years and then in the seventh it stops. It has similarities to us having Shabbat.
Micah: When there's a farm it can help produce food for many people. The Shmita year causes us to think in a different way like saving food and allowing for others to pick from out backyard trees and gardens.
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.