We are familiar with the routine. Rosh Hashanah is a time for renewal. We make our new-year commitments to do an extra mitzvah, set aside more time for Torah study and to give more charity. But as humans we need change. A break in routine is healthy. What will make the year 5775 unique?
In ancient Israel the economy was primarily agricultural. Each tribe was apportioned an area of land and every family inherited property. The primary occupation was farming.
Prior to the grand entry into the Promised Land, G-d set down the tone of this farming community in the following way: (Leviticus 25)
When you come to the land that I am giving you, the land shall rest a Sabbath to the L-rd. You may sow your field for six years, and for six years you may prune your vineyard, and gather in its produce, but in the seventh year, the land shall have a complete rest, a Sabbath to the L-rd; you shall not sow your field, nor shall you prune your vineyard.
Imagine this: A civilization with a roaring economy, employment is at 100% primarily through the farming industry and it all grinds to a halt every seventh year. For a full year! What does everyone eat?
The Torah addresses this concern and G-d ensures the Jewish people that if they will adhere to the laws of Shmitah (the seventh year in the cycle), the crop of the sixth year will yield a triple surplus of food. For the entire year the people of Israel filled the study halls and immersed themselves in Torah study. It felt like a 354 day Shabbat.
The commandment of Shmitah applies today as well. In fact, this year is a Shmitah year. Even for us non-farmers this mitzvah has a powerful relevance to our lives.
There is the weekday reality and the Shabbat reality. Throughout the week we are concerned with ourselves, occupied with providing for our families and consumed by the fast paced reality of the big world. On Shabbat we put ourselves aside and devote 24 hours to focus on our higher purpose.
Every seventh year G-d gifts us with a year-long opportunity to experience the selflessness and serenity of Shabbat all the time. This year, make an effort to focus a bit more on your higher purpose. Commit yourself to a mitzvah that you may find difficult and increase in charity though it may be tough. This Rosh Hashanah we are given the power of selflessness. Let’s cash it in and think of another more than we think of ourselves.
May G-d Al-mighty bless our community and the entire world with a ktivah v’chatimah tovah leshanah tovah umetukah – a good and sweet new year!