Winds of Change

Only two short parashot left in Sefer Vayikra, B'har and B'chukotai. We have been listening and internalizing HaShem's instructions, sitting in His shade soaking up His Words of Life. The winds of change are blowing, we can't sit here forever beloved, it is time to take what HaShem has taught us and put these words into action, for that is the purpose for which we were created. Hashem has some last instructions to give us to help make the transition a little smoother. Our first set of instructions are the focus of these words and they are about the land, HaShem's land. Make no mistake who is the rightful owner, for all who aren't sure HaShem will set the record straight. "Six years you shall sow and six years you shall prune your vineyard, and gather it's fruit, but in the seventh year the land is to have a Sabbath of rest, a Sabbath to HaShem". Lev 25:3-4. While it is true that the farmer rests on Shabbat, the field is still growing or working so to speak, so it does not get to enjoy it's Shabbat rest. There are 50-51 Shabbats in a year, multiply that by 6 and you get 354. Remember beloved our calendar is not based on the solar calendar, it is HaShem's calendar, so we count all the shabbatsim in the year to determine the number, not only the regular Shabbats but the holiday shabbats as well. This is the number of days the land must be compensated, so every 7 years the land is to lay fallow in order to pay it back for all the Shabbats it was unable to rest. The Torah says that the ground should rest as a Shabbos to HaShem. We have already learned about sanctifying time, now we are to sanctify space, HaShem's space. We are to treat His land, His Holy land with the same respect as we treat His Name.

In Lev 25 23-24 it says,"And the land is not to be sold beyond reclaim, for the land is Mine, for you are sojourners, and settlers with Me. And provide for a redemption for the land, in all the land of your possession". Long ago HaShem promised Abraham that his descendants would possess, not own the land of Israel. We are but stewards of His land. The land of Israel can not be sold or bargained away. According to the Torah the land is owned by HaShem and He alone will decide who will occupy it. So no matter what the rulers of the day may think, " land for peace" "roadmap for peace", or what ever bill of goods they are peddling these days, we are the rightful stewards of the land. Pray that the people of Israel be strengthened in their resolve to protect the land. Keep her defenders from harm. Pray that the leadership in Israel will see that the only hope for peace is to protect the land, not just parts of it, but all of it.

As we finish out Vayikra, know that it is a picture of redemption beloved, it is a picture of grace. We can't possibly fulfill all of Torah, so do what you can with all your heart and have faith, have emunah, that HaShem will do the rest, He is the portion in our cup on the day that we call
Chazak! Chazak! Venischazeik!

Leading Rabbis have suggested that we recite the following Psalms to merit the Almighty's help for our brethern defending the Holy Land.
Psalm 83, 130, 142
B'H' Good Shabbos
Elizabeth