Security and Faith

In Parshat Behar we read about the Mitzvah of Shemitah, the Sabbatical in the Land of Israel every seventh year. If observed correctly, we are taught that the reward is that we will dwell in the land l'vetach. Rashi explains that observing Shemitah leads to security and safety for the Jewish inhabitants of Israel. But not observing Shemitah leads to exile. In fact there is a tradition that the 70 years of exile after the destruction of the first Temple corresponds to the 70 shimtahs that were not observed correctly during the almost 500 years during which the first Temple stood.

The word vetach is related to both the words security and faith (both bitachon). The future of Jewish prosperity in the Land of Israel is tied to both appropriate security measures as well as appropriate demonstrations of faith in God.

As the memories of Yom Haatzmaut are still fresh in our minds, let us learn well the lesson of Shemitah: to recognize the limitations of human endeavor, and to pursue both security and faith as parallel yet complementary facets of Jewish existence.