WAYS AND MEANS

Parashat Behar
Torah: Leviticus 25:1 – 26:2
Haftarah: Jeremiah 32:6-27

20 Iyar 5776 / 27-28 May 2016

Calendar and dedications follow below. For a full calendar of events and other info about Congregation Beth Meier, check out: www.bethmeier.org

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WAYS AND MEANS

"And if you say, 'What will we eat in the seventh year? Behold, we do not sow and do not gather in our crop', then I will command My blessing upon you in the sixth year, and it will bring forth fruit for three years." (Leviticus 25:21)

Every seventh year, known as shmittah, the land of Israel is not to be tilled. During that year, the people are to live on the harvest from the end of the sixth year plus anything growing wild. During the eighth year (the first year in the next cycle), they are to survive on surplus from the sixth plus anything growing wild in the seventh and eighth years until the new crop comes in. Imported food is also permitted.

A number of commentators have suggested that one purpose of the shmittah year is to teach the wealthy what it is like to lack resources and not have all that they want. They will develop humility and an understanding of the need to help the poor.

But will they? After all, the rich will merely plan ahead with extra stores, or use their wealth to purchase what they need. So what does God mean by "I will command My blessing"?

Perhaps this: "And if your brother becomes poor and his strength fails him, you shall support him, even if he is a convert or a sojourner among you, that he may live with you." (Leviticus 25:35) That is certainly a command - but where is the blessing? As we will read in the opening lines of next week’s parashah, B’chukotai, "If you walk in My statutes and keep My commandments, and do them; then I will give you rain in due season, and the land will yield its produce, and the trees of the field will yield their fruit." (Leviticus 26:3-4)

It's a simple lesson for the haves, which is just about all of us reading this e-mail. If you take care of the needy when you have the means, you will continue to be blessed with the means. Otherwise, you might eventually be denied the means even to take care of yourself.

Shabbat Shalom!

Rabbi Richard A. Flom

Congregation Beth Meier - Studio City, CA

Website: http://bethmeier.org

Blogging at: http://rav-rich.blogspot.com/

Twitter: @DrahcirMolf

"From the place where we are absolutely right, flowers will never grow in the spring."

"מן המקום שבו אנו צודקים לא יצמחו לעולם פרחים באביב"

Yehuda Amichai

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Candlelighting: 7:38 pm

Friday: Shabbat Evening Service – 8:00 pm. Oneg Shabbat follows.

Saturday: Shabbat Morning Service – 10:00 am. Kiddush lunch follows.

Sunday: NO Religious School – summer break. NO Sunday Adult Education except by request to Barry Glass or Lynda Foster.

Monday: Memorial Day. Before you prepare for your barbecue, please - raise a flag, take a moment of silence, show gratitude and respect for those who died in service to our country.

Tuesday: Lunch and Learn – 12:00 noon.

Friday, 3 June: Shabbat Evening Service – 8:00 pm. Oneg Shabbat follows.

Saturday, 4 June: Shabbat Morning Service – 10:00 am. Kiddush lunch follows.

Saturday, 11 June: Tikkun Leil Shavuot at Adat Ari El. Our flyer says that the study sessions begin at 9:00 pm. However, we will first hold ma’ariv and havdalah at Adat Ari El at 8:45, and the learning will begin at 9:15 pm.

Sunday, 12 June: Shavuot Morning Service – 10:00 am.

Monday, 13 June: Shavuot Morning Service and Yizkor – 10:00 am.

Next time you come to Beth Meier, please bring some non-perishable canned and packaged foods and personal items (no glass) for SOVA.

This d'var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah for Yaakov Rani Ben Margalit, Avi Shmuel Yosef Hakohen ben Bella, Miriam Minya bat Alisa Batya, Sarah bat Devorah, Susan Arbetman, Scott Beatty, Ken Bitticks, Elsbet Brosky, Jerry Daniels, Maya Fersht (Maya bat Esther), Dr. Samuel Fersht (Shmuel Natan ben Gittel), Leonard Foint (Eliezer Moshe ben Esther), Jerry Forman, Stephanie Kane, Philip Kovac, Carolynne Lavoie-Schwartz, Toni Linder, Deborah Schugar Strauss (Devorah bat Chaya Feiga), and Beatrice Weide (Bayla bat Malkah).

Please let me know if there is anyone you would like to add to this list or if there is anyone who may be removed from this list.

My weekly divrei torah are available through free subscription to the Cyber Torah e-mail list. No salesman will call!

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To dedicate a Cyber Torah in honor of a simchah, in memory of a loved one or for a refuah shleimah, send an e-mail to: ravflom@sbcglobal.net with the heading “Dedicate Cyber Torah” and provide details in the message body.