We pray every week for the leaders of the Jewish Ministry,
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A must website. To subscribe to our newsletter. To download some resources (Hebrew Sabbath School, and other documents). To order the book “Comfort, Comfort my people…” and many other things. •
Professional Urban Development: The WJAFC provides: - Professional Urban training for Jewish Ministry - Teaching for theological students - Help to plant new congregations. - Support for AdventistJewish dialogue with scholars and rabbis
Shalom Adventure Magazine online: www.ShalomAdventure.com
If you would like to read articles, watch videos, learn things about Judaism and Israel, this website is just for you. • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WJAFC: If you would like to share with people, this forum on facebook is a good place for that. • Photos on Google+: http://picasaweb.google.com/jewishadventist: We have posted a lot of pictures on Internet during the last years. Don’t hesitate to look at them.
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If you would like to listen Jewish or Messianic songs. If you want to be used to ear modern Hebrew of the Apostolic Writings, it is the right radio to listen on the web. • Adventist Mission Website: http://wjafc.adventistmission.org/ This website is the new resource provided by the Office of Adventist Mission of the General Conference of the Seventh-day Adventists. • Russian Website: http://www.boruh.info/ This website is in Russian, many articles and the parasha are posted on it every week.
WJAFC Paris
A weekly Journal of information and training published by the World Jewish Adventist Friendship Center Under the umbrella of the General Conference —Office of Adventist Mission
Journal of Information and Training — Issue 681— 21 May 2 0 1 6 / 1 5 I y a r 5 7 7 6
Jael Wells Cuellar English Edition: Richard-Amram Elofer
Richard Amram Elofer
Russian Edition: Alexandra Obrevko French Edition: Sabine Baris Spanish Edition: Jael Wells Cuellar Portuguese Edition: Carlos Muniz Dutch Edition: Hubert Paulleta
Hubert Paulleta 8
Shabbat — Behar
Shabbat Shalom Newsletter
Resources:
Carlos Muniz Emails: English: richard@elofer.com Russian: sashok_l@mail.ru French: sabinebaris@gmail.com Spanish: jael_wells@hotmail.com Portuguese: cdmuniz@gmail.com Dutch: hpauletta@hotmail.com
Credit photos: Richard Elofer, Alexandra Obrevko, Jael Wells Cuellar Hubert Paulleta, Laurent Baris and Advent Digital Media
for more information: contact us at www.jewishadventist.org
Alexandra Obrevko
Sabine Baris
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28 May / 22 Iyar 2016 / 5776
This issue
News P.1 Parasha’s comments P.2-4 Haftara P.4-5 Apostolic Writings P.5 Stories P.6 Inspirational Corner P.6,7 Color Sheet for Kids P.7
Weekly Jewish-Adventist Journal of Information
We pray every week for leaders of the Jewish Ministry, According to our list of prayer for 2016, I suggest that our partners pray from May 29 to June 4, for two couples Alex and Ema Herter, and Michael and Galina Moritz. They are the leaders of the Jewish ministry in Germany, after leading a congregation in Koln, they have planted a new Jewish Adventist congregation in Berlin and lead them together. Let’s pray for their ministry.
NEWS
Anti-Semitic Assault in France
i One of the member of our Jewish Ad-
ventist Congregation in Paris was attacked by a group of anti-Semitic people close to his home. He was walking from his home to a backery with a kippa upon his head, there on the street he was approached by a group of young people, who started to insult him “Dirty Jew” and they started to hit him. He was really badly hurt, after this aggression, he went to police station, was heard, the young people were not far from there, were arrested by the police and now are waiting to be presented to the judge in the court. With all anti-Semitism occurring in France, police agents have received instructions to be very strict with any kind of anti-Semitism.
Friendship in a Synagogue
i A member of our Jewish Adventist congregation in Paris, has decided to build strong friendship with the synagogue close to his home. He therefore went to attend a synagogue service on Friday evening. The people in the synagogue were surprised to see him and welcomed him, they asked him who he was, and he just introduced himself to the rabbi as a Seventh-day Adventist. In fact the Rabbi and the members of the synagogue did not know too much about Seventh-day Adventists. Then he continued to attend the synagogue several Friday, the member of this synagogue were used
to see him and they became more and more friendly. On one Friday the Rabbi announced the visit of the Great Rabbi of France in their synagogue. Our Adventist member had a training in journalism and TV cameraman, he went to speak to the Rabbi and said to him, Oh that is great event, have you announced this visit to the media, the Rabbi says no, because we have so many synagogues in Paris and suburb that we cannot call the media every time the Great Rabbi visit a synagogue, he does that every week. Our member say to the Rabbi, you know I have a training in journalism, if I can help you in any thing just let me know. Later the rabbi came to see him and said to him, since the Great Rabbi is coming we would be happy to have an article reporting about his visit for our magazine, can you write it for us? For sure answered our member. Thus he attended the visit of the Great Rabbi and prepared an article and handled it to the local rabbi. This article was a long one, 2 pages, However the local Rabbi was very happy and published it integrally. Here is an example of building good relationship with a Jewish community. We never know what would happen, how far this relation will go, but progressively the Jewish community will know that the Seventh-day Adventist exist and that they are friends of the Jewish people. On the day of the pouring of the Holy Spirit upon the Jewish people (Zech 12:10) Jews will know that they have an Adventist friend who will explain to them who is Jesus.
Parasha for this Week Behar
Parasha Overview
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he Torah prohibits normal farming of the Land of Israel every seven years. This “Shabbat” for the Land is called shemita. After every seventh shemita, the fiftieth year the yovel (jubilee) is announced with the sound of the shofar on Yom Kippur. This was also a year for the Land to lie fallow. G-d promises to provide a bumper crop prior to the shemita and yovel years. During yovel, all land is returned to its original division from the time of Joshua, and all indentured servants are freed, even if they have not completed their six years of work. An Israelite servant may not be given any demeaning, unnecessary or excessively difficult work, and may not be sold in the public market. The price of his labor must be calculated according to the amount of time remaining until he will automatically become free. The price of land is similarly calculated. Should anyone sell his ancestral
“The LORD spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai, saying…” (Leviticus 25:1)
Leviticus 25:1 - 26:2
Shmita & Yovel
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he mitzvoth of this week are introduced by a verse saying: “The L-rd spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai, saying…” (Leviticus 25:1). We know that all the laws given by G-d to Moses were given at Mount Sinai. Why does Scripture make a point telling us that the laws of Shmita (sabbatical year) were revealed at Sinai. The laws of Shmita and Yovel (jubilee) were not applied in the Sinai, but only after arriving in Canaan, not right after entering the Promise Land, but only after the conquest of the land, the sharing of the land between the tribes of Israel and their installation. That means at the end of Joshua’s life. There was therefore, between fifty to eighty years between the giving of G-d’s laws and the day that the laws of Shmita and Yovel were applied. Thus the laws of Shmita and Yovel did not exist in a practical way, when the Cohen Gadol declared that these laws were applicable, and it would be difficult for Israel to believe that these mitzvoth were
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all revealed on Mount Sinai. Moses, thus, repeated in this portion of the Torah that the laws of Shmita and Yovel were given with all other laws in Sinai.
Shabbat and Shmita
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he Torah states: “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When you come into the land that I give you, the land shall keep a Sabbath to the L-rd. For six years you shall sow your field, and for six years you shall prune your vineyard and gather in its fruits, but in the seventh year there shall be a Shabbat of solemn rest for the land, a Shabbat to the L-rd. You shall not sow your field or prune your vineyard. You shall not reap what grows of itself in your harvest, or gather the grapes of your undressed vine. It shall be a year of solemn rest for the land.” (Leviticus 25:2–5). In this Parasha we see how the Land of Israel is indeed a Holy and special Land uniquely different than any other land. Instructions are given about the observance of two special kinds of sanctified year—the seventh year (Shemita or “re-
lease”) when the land was rested; and the fiftieth year (Yovel or “Jubilee”) when the Hebrew slaves were emancipated and most property reverted to its original owner. The two institutions were connected: the Jubilee being the completion of seven seven-year cycles (7 x 7 = 49). It was not, itself, counted as a year in the seven-yearly reckoning. Rabbi Jonathan Sacks reminds us that “the Jubilee lapsed as a practical institution when some of the tribes went into exile. But we can distinguish three periods in its history: First, a time when the Jubilee was observed. Second, a time during the second Temple when it was not observed but was still counted for the purpose of fixing the seven-year cycle. And third a time, as today, when neither Temple stood, and the sevenyear cycle is counted without reference to the Jubilee. The Jubilees stopped when the first tribes started to be deported and went to exile, as it is written in the Talmud: “When the tribes of Reuben and Gad and the half-tribe of Menasseh went into exile, the Jubilees were abolished, as it is said, ‘And you shall proclaim liberty throughout the
land unto all the inhabitants thereof,—that is (only) at the time when all its inhabitants dwell upon it, but not at the time when some of them are exiled.” (Arachin, 32b). The Shmita is presented as the Shabbat of the land. The difference between Shabbat and the Shmita hinges on the difference in their meaning. Shabbat expresses homage to G-d as the Creator and King of the universe. As Rabbi Hirsch wrote it “Man subordinates himself and all the powers at his disposal to control the world to G-d. Man ceases from creation when he recalls G-d’s creation. Hence all exercise of creative power over mater is considered as “Work” which is prohibited on Shabbat. Shmita on the other hand, expresses homage to G-d as the Master of the Land of Israel, and for this purpose it suffices to subordinate the land to Gd’s rule. Israel is a unique and special land. This land was G-d’s promise to our forefathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and is an everlasting inheritance to the Jewish people of all generations.
The Torah proclaims this loud and clear. Anyone who believes in the Bible knows and believes this. That is why a man of Israel must remember that his land belongs to G-d, and that he is merely a stranger and a sojourner with G-d; he then neither works his land nor gathers in its produce to ensure his livelihood. When he ceases sowing and pruning, and when he refrains from reaping the produce that grows on its own, so as to bring it into his home, his land does not provide his livelihood that year. Rabbi Hirsch concludes, Thus the soil of the whole country is stamped as ownerless, and for a whole year declares before all that Israel is not master of its land.
Year of Jubilee
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very fiftieth year, the year of Yovel (jubilee), every inheritance in the land was to be restored to its original owner. “It shall be a jubilee for you, when each of you shall return to his property and each of you shall return to his clan.” (Leviticus 25:10). Thus in His infinite wisdom
the L-rd educated His people. His requirements were not arbitrary. Connected with all the instruction received by the people from the Source of all light was the consequence of obedience and disobedience. They were taught that obedience would bring them the richest spiritual grace, and would enable them to distinguish between the sacred and the common. Disobedience would also bring its sure result. If the people chose to manage the land in their own supposed wisdom, they would find that the L-rd would not work a miracle to counteract the evils He was trying to save them from. The L-rd presented to His people the course they must pursue if they would be a prosperous, independent nation. If they obeyed Him, He declared that health and peace would be theirs, and under His supervision the land would yield its increase.
Sabbatical Year
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ccording to Rabbi Kalman Packouz The two commandments Sabbatical year and
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land, he has the right to redeem it after two years. If a house in a walled city is sold, the right of redemption is limited to the first year after the sale. The Levites’ cities belong to them forever. Israel are forbidden to take advantage of one another by lending or borrowing with interest. Family members should redeem any relative who was sold as a servant as a result of impoverishment.
Haftara Overview Jeremiah 32:6-27
“And you shall blow the shofar on the tenth day of the seventh month, on the Day of Atonement shall you sound the shofar throughout all your land. (Leviticus 25:9)
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n this text of Jeremiah we have an illustration of the year of Yovel. “Jeremiah said, ‘The word of the L-rd came to me: Hanamel son of your uncle Shallum is going to come to you and say, “Buy my field that is at Anathoth, for the right of redemption by purchase is yours’” (Jer. 32:6-7). However, Jeremiah wanted to be certain that this revelation was truly from G-d. It was a strange order. Jeremiah had received the revelation from G-d that the people of Israel would be deported to Babylon, Jerusalem and the temple would be destroyed. There was no sense in buying a property now. It would be better to keep these seventeen shekels of silver and to use them in Babylon where they would be living. It was very strange. The L-rd had to confirm to Jeremiah that this revelation was true. And it was confirmed by his cousin. “Then my cousin Hanamel came to me in the court of the guard, in accordance with the word of the L-rd, and said to me, ‘Buy my field that is at Anathoth in the land of Benjamin, for the right of possession and redemption is yours; buy it
the Jubilee year fall into one of the seven categories of evidence that G-d gave the Torah. If the idea is to give the land a rest, then the logical plan would be to not plant one-seventh of the land each year. To command an agrarian society to completely stop cultivating all farm lands every seventh year, one has to be either G-d or a meshugah (crazy). No sane group of editors would include such an “insane” commandment in a set of laws for his people; only G-d could command it and ensure the survival of his people for following it. The sabbatical year, as it was called, began at the end of the harvest. At the seedtime, which followed the ingathering, the people were not to sow; they should not dress the vineyard in the spring; and they must expect neither harvest nor vintage. Of that which the land produced spontaneously they might eat while fresh, but they were not to lay up any portion of it in their storehouses. The yield of this year was to be free for the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and even for the creatures of the field. (Exodus 23:10,
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11; Leviticus 25:5). But if the land ordinarily produced only enough to supply the wants of the people, how were they to subsist during the year when no crops were gathered? For this the promise of G-d made ample provision. “Then I will command my blessing upon you in the sixth year, and it shall bring forth fruit for three years. And you shall sow the eighth year, and eat still of old fruit until the ninth year; until its fruits come in you shall eat of the old store.” (Leviticus 25:21, 22). The observance of the sabbatical year was to be a benefit to both the land and the people. The soil, lying untilled for one season, would afterward produce more plentifully. The people were released from the pressing labors of the field; and while there were various branches of work that could be followed during this time, all enjoyed greater leisure, which afforded opportunity for the restoration of their physical powers for the exertions of the following years. They had more time for meditation and prayer, for acquainting themselves with the teachings and requirements of the L-rd, and for the instruction of their households.
Year of Messiah
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he Torah states: “And if you say, ‘What shall we eat in the seventh year, if we may not sow or gather in our crop?’ I will command my blessing on you in the sixth year, so that it will produce a crop sufficient for three years.” (Leviticus 25:20–21) The question “What shall we eat in the seventh year?” is even more pressing in light of the fact that, the land having been depleted by five years of planting, the sixth year’s yield is naturally less than average. Yet G‑d promises that it will provide not only for a full year’s sustenance, but also for the seventh year and beyond. Our sages tell us that the seven-year Shemita cycle corresponds to the seven millennia of history. For six thousand years man labors in the fields of the material world, in preparation for the seventh millennium, a millennium that is “wholly Sabbath and tranquility, for life everlasting,” the era of Mashiach. It is clear in the Brit Hachadasha that when the Messiah will come, he will inaugurate a period of one thousand years, when the earth will be in rest and all the believers will enjoy being with G-d in heaven. (Revelation 20:4-6)
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Apostolic Writings — Luke 4:14-22
he parasha for this week is about the Yovel or Jubilee. The Torah said “Consecrate the fiftieth year and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you” (Lev 25:10). The Yovel was a lesson for Israel to learn the freedom which will be given by the Messiah. It is interesting that in the text of the besorah Yeshua made a connection between the Yovel and his own ministry as the Messiah. It is true that the Yovel is a year of freedom, it is a year when debts are cancelled, year when the land comes back to his first owner, year when the captives and slaves are sent back free in their home. Symbolically this freedom is the freedom the Messiah brings to the world. Yeshua was a Jew, he was born as a Jew and lived as a Jew. That is why it is written that every Shabbat he went to the synagogue “He taught in their synagogues, and everyone praised him.” (Luke 4:15). In this text of Luke, it is written that after a trip to the Jordan River and the desert of Jericho he came back home, in Nazareth. On Shabbat he went to the synagogue. It was a great honor for this city to receive Yeshua on Shabbat. So after the reading of the parasha, it was the time to read the Haftara. “He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read.” (Luke 4:16). Yeshua was asked to read the haftara. “The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Un-
rolling it, he found the place where it is written” (Luke 4:17). Everything happens for a purpose. On this Shabbat, just when Yeshua starts his mission and ministry as the Mashiach, the text of the Haftara is the text of Isaiah, which reminds to Israel the Yovel. “The Spirit of the L-rd is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the L-rd’s favor.” (Luke 4:19). Yeshua was the first in all history to receive such a full portion of the Ruach Elohim, even Moses, the servant of G-d who went up to Sinai and spoke personally with G-d did not receive fully the Ruach Hakodesh as Yeshua received it: The spirit of the L-rd was upon Yeshua: to preach the good news to the poor, to bind up the brokenhearted to proclaim freedom for the captives, to release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the L-rd’s favor, to comfort all who mourn In Nazareth, Yeshua read the text of Isaiah 61 but he stopped his reading just before the words “and the day of vengeance of our G-d” (Is 61:2). Yeshua came to proclaim deliverance, freedom and G-d’s forgiveness. It was not yet the time to proclaim “vengeance”. This time will be on the time of his return, at the end of time. The text of Luke continues “Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of
everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, and he began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips. “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” they asked. (Luke 4:20-22). For Yeshua this prophecy was in the process of being fulfilled. “Today this scripture is fulfilled” and the people were amazed, they recognized him as the son of Joseph. The Jewish people had no revelation on the suffering Messiah, they were waiting for the king Mashiach, the “Son of David” the glorious Messiah who had to come to inaugurate the kingdom of G-d. Let’s remember that in the Hebrew Bible we have two visions of the Messiah, the one who will come from heaven “I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, … And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion…” (Daniel 7:13–14), but we also have another vision of a humble Messiah “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” (Zechariah 9:9). This humble Messiah was Yeshua who came full of the Spirit of G-d to fulfill the prophecy of Isaiah 61 or the Yovel, let’s get freedom from Yeshua.
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for yourself.’ Then I knew that this was the word of the L-rd” (Jer. 32:8). Jeremiah obeyed and bought the land. “And I bought the field at Anathoth from my cousin Hanamel, and weighed out the money to him, seventeen shekels of silver. I signed the deed, sealed it, got witnesses, and weighed the money on scales. (Jer. 32:9-10). Why did the L-rd want Jeremiah to spend this money in Jerusalem, to buy land that would be taken by the Babylonians? “Thus says the L-rd of hosts, the G-d of Israel: Take these deeds, both this sealed deed of purchase and this open deed, and put them in an earthenware jar, in order that they may last for a long time. For thus says the L-rd of hosts, the G-d of Israel: Houses and fields and vineyards shall again be bought in this land “ (Jer. 32:14-15). The main message of this purchase is that there is hope. G-d is not going to abandon his people or to reject them. He wants to teach them a lesson. He wants to push them to fulfil his mission which is to share the knowledge of G-d. That is why this money was not lost. OUR HOPE IS IN THE L-RD.
Stories and Traditions
Where is our Treasure?
Inspirational Corner v
But what especially made the year of Jubilee special was the return of all land property to the family of the original owner. No one was allowed to trade his estate, and he was not to sell his land unless poverty forced him to do so. Whenever he or any of his relatives might want to buy it back it, the purchaser must not refuse to sell it. If it was not bought back earlier, it would be returned to its original owner or his heirs in the Year of Jubilee. (BOE 268)
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matt. 6:21) ar Ukva’s neighbor was a poor person. Each day, Mar Ukva threw the sum of four zuzim through a hole in his neighbor door so that he would not know his identity. One day, Mar Ukva and his wife stopped by the neighbor’s house to drop in the four zuzim (kind of charity). But as they did, the poor man opened the door. Afraid that he would be embarrassed seeing his benefactor, Mar Ukva and his wife ran and hid in a large oven used for baking bread. The coals in the oven were still hot and Mar Ukva burnt his feet. However, his wife’s feet were not affected at all. She suggested that he place his feet on hers to avoid further pain. “We both give charity, so why is it that my feet burnt while yours didn’t?” asked Mar Ukva. His wife replied: “The reason is that you perform the mitzvah of charity by giving the poor money. But they cannot benefit from this immediately for they must still buy food. But I am in the house and when a poor person comes for help, I give them food which they eat right away and benefit immediately!” Mar Ukva’s charity was legendary. Every Erev Yom Kippur, he would send a poor person a certain amount of money. Once, he sends the money with his son, but the boy came back with it. He told his father, “The person doesn’t need your money! When I came to his
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house, I saw him eating a festive meal and drinking good wine!” “I didn’t realize what this man’s needs were,” Mar Ukva said to his son. “Obviously he needs more than what I give him.” Mar Ukva immediately doubled the amount and told his son to bring it to the person! Before Mar Ukva passed away he asked that an accounting of all the money he distributed for charity be brought before him. It amounted to a very large sum. Yet, Mar Ukva wasn’t satisfied. “I’m taking too little with me for such a long journey!” he stated. He then took half of his possessions and distributed it to charity.
HONESTY IN BUSINESS
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he Talmudic sage Reb Chanina earned his livelihood from selling honey. Once instead of giving bee’s honey, he filled the customer’s jar with fruit honey by mistake. Next time he saw the customer, he told the customer that he mistakenly gave him fruit honey. The customer replied that he was happy with the honey he got. Yet, Rabbi Chanina felt that he transgressed on the mitzvah of honest business practice, for he didn’t give him what he thought he wanted. So, not wanting to have any gain from money earned in a misleading way, he donated the profit of the sale to charity.
Our Relationship with Him
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man, who had business in a distant city, bid his wife farewell, left his apartment and went out to
the street to find a taxi. To his delight, a taxi was standing at the curbside. At the airport, he found a skycap waiting to take his luggage just as he opened his door. His ticket was waiting for him at the counter, and once again, he was delighted to discover he had been assigned his favorite seat. What wonderful coincidences, he thought. The coincidences continued throughout his trip, and he marveled at his good fortune. Finally, he arrived at the hotel in the city of his destination and found that a delicious meal had been prepared for him. Moreover, the food was prepared and arranged exactly as he preferred it! Aha! he thought. This is too much to attribute to coincidence. Now I clearly see my wife’s loving hand. She made sure that I was happy and comfortable every step of the way. I must thank her not only for the meal, but for every convenience I have so fortuitously encountered on my trip. Rabbi Naftali Reich comments: In our own lives, most of us can easily think of at least one or two times when we saw clearly the Almighty’s hand leading us through difficult times. But think about it. Does not it stand to reason that all the other good things that have happened to us in the normal course of events, all the little coincidences that we are so accustomed to taking for granted, all of these were also engineered by the loving hand of the Almighty? Once we come to this realization, our relationship with Him will rise to a new level and will be forever spiritually enriched.
Kids Parasha Behar
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Leviticus 21:1 - 26:2 “Speak to Aaron and his sons and all the people of Israel and say to them, When any one of the house of Israel or of the sojourners in Israel presents a burnt offering as his offering, for any of their vows or freewill offerings that they offer to the L-rd, if it is to be accepted for you it shall be a male without blemish, of the bulls or the sheep or the goats. You shall not offer anything that has a blemish, for it will not be acceptable for you. And when anyone offers a sacrifice of peace offerings to the L-rd to fulfill a vow or as a freewill offering from the herd or from the flock, to be accepted it must be perfect; there shall be no blemish in it. Animals blind or disabled or mutilated or having a discharge or an itch or scabs you shall not offer to the L-rd or give them to the L-rd as a food offering on the altar. You may present a bull or a lamb that has a part too long or too short for a freewill offering, but for a vow offering it cannot be accepted.” (Leviticus 22:18–23) http://www.bnai-tikkun.org.nz 7
Inspirational Corner v The L-rd would place a check upon the inordinate love of property and power. Great evils would result from the continued accumulation of wealth by one class, and the poverty and degradation of another. Without some restraint the power of the wealthy would become a monopoly, and the poor, though in every respect fully as worthy in G-d’s sight, would be regarded and treated as inferior to their more prosperous brethren. The sense of this oppression would arouse the passions of the poorer class. . . . . . The regulations that G-d established were designed to promote social equality. The provisions of the sabbatical year and the jubilee would, in a great measure, set right that which during the interval had gone wrong in the social and political economy of the nation. (PP 534)