SH'MITAH VITAMINS

Sources: Rashi. Sefer HaParshios p. 317. Bereishis 21:7. Rashi

The Parsha tells us that Eretz Yisroel is especially holy during the sh'mita year. Nevertheless, the food which grows may be fed to non-Jews. If it is so holy, why may it be given to them?

The answer is that it is similar to when Yitzchok was born. The nations of the world didn't believe that Sarah really had a baby sinceshe was so old. So Hashem made a miracle: all the ladies brought theirbabies to Sarah and she was able to nurse them all!

But why did Hashem have all these babies nurse from the holy Sarah? Through this, these babies grew up with fear of Hashem.

The same applies to eating the food from the sh'mita year. Through eating this food, the nations will be prepared to recognize the greatness of Hashem when the geulah comes.




MOSHIACH AND YOVEL

Sources: Hilchos Melachim 11:1. Sh'mita V'Yovel 10:8.12:16

Parshas Behar teaches about the special laws of Sh'mita (the 7th year) and Yovel (the 50th year).

In the laws discussing Moshiach, the Rambam tells us that Moshiach will bring back the laws of Sh'mita and Yovel just as they were before. But before that, the laws of Sh'mita and Yovel do not fully apply.

This is because the posuk says that we need kol yoshveha -- all the Bnei Yisroel-- living in Eretz Yisroel. Moshiach will lead all the Bnei Yisroel out of golus and back to Eretz Yisroel. Then we will be able to keep all the mitzvos of the Torah fully.




YOVEL AND GEULAH

Sources: Rabbeinu Bachaye 25:47

After 7 sh'mita cycles of 7 years each, the 50th year is declared yovel.

Yovel also hints to the geulah. In the 50th year, the shofar is blown and all slaves are set free. In the same way, the Bnei Yisroel will be set free from our slavery in golus.

There is a second way that yovel hints to the geulah. The word yovel is just like the word yovilu. The word yovilu is written in Tehillim (76:12): all the nations "yovilu shai" -- will bring gifts to Hashem when the geulah comes.




REDEEMING HASHEM'S INHERITANCE

Sources: Or HaChaim

This week's parsha says, "When your brother becomes poor and sells his inheritance, a redeemer close to him" can come and redeem him. On the simple level, this refers to a person who has to sell his land. It also hints to golus and geulah.

It is as if Hashem "became poor" in golus, because people went away from Hashem's laws. Therefore Hashem "sold His inheritance" -- the Bais HaMikdosh -- to the nations of the world.

But a tzadik will come who is "close to Him" -- close to Hashem -- and bring the geulah. How will he do this? He will awaken people to the fact that they are in golus and tell them, "How can you enjoy yourselves here in golus? You should yearn to be close to Hashem again!" He will arouse the people until they better their ways, and in this way he will "redeem Hashem's inheritance" by building the Bais HaMikdosh and bringing the geulah. And when the geulah comes, Hashem will ask all the gedolei Yisroel, "what did you do to help?".



GERIM AND ERETZ YISROEL

Sources: Baal HaTurim 25:45. Koheles Rabah 1:7:6. Abarbanel

This week's parsha speaks about those who were born --holidu -- Eretz Yisroel.

The same word holidu is used only one other time in the entire Tanach -- in Yechezkel 47:22. The last 9 chapters of Yechezkel (40-48) speak all about the days of Moshiach. In Yechezkel 47:22, the novi speaks about how Eretz Yisroel will be divided among the Bnei Yisroel when the geulah comes. It will be different than the way it was split up the first time in the days of Yehoshua.

In the days of Yehoshua, only members of the 12 tribes received a portion, but gerim (converts) did not, since they were not from any tribe. But all the children who were born (holidu) to gerim will receive a portion in Eretz Yisroel together with everyone else.
One reason for this is because the gerim suffered in golus together the rest of Bnei Yisroel -- for sure they deserve a portion of Eretz Yisroel as reward!



MASHIACH REDEEMS HIS COUSINS

Sources: Rabbeinu Bachaye

If a Jew becomes very, very poor and is sold as a servant to a non- Jew, then his family is required to "redeem" him and free him from being under the control of the non-Jew. The Torah also mentions specially that, "One of his brothers should redeem him." This hints to Moshiach, who is from the "number one" tribe of Yehudah. When the posuk says that Moshiach is our "brother," it teaches us that he is not a malach (an angel), but a person born to a father and mother as we all are. The same happened when we were redeemed the first time. We were taken out by a person -- Moshe Rabbeinu -- not a malach.




MOSHIACH REDEEMS HIS COUSINS

Sources: Baal HaTurim. Daas Z'keinim

The Parsha tells us what happens if a Jew becomes very, very poor and becomes a servant to a non-Jew. The family is then required to "redeem" him and free him from being under the control of the non-Jew.

The Torah singles out his cousin (ben-dodo) as being one who has a special responsibility to redeem him.

This hints to the Bnei Yisroel being sent into golus; it is as if we are the poor person who has been sold to the non-Jewish nations. Who will obtain our release?

This is done by Moshiach, who is referred to here as the "cousin." We see this hinted to in the way the Torah writes the word "ben-dodo."

Since it is written with only one letter "vov," "ben-dodo" has the same letters as "ben-Dovid" -- Moshiach ben Dovid!