Going Free

This week’s Torah reading describes the Jubilee year, the 50th year of the agricultural cycle in Eretz Yisrael. At this time, ancestral property that was sold was returned and servants were freed. When the Jews entered the Holy Land after their journey through the desert, each person received a plot of land. If they—or their heirs—sold it, it was returned in the fiftieth year.

Similarly, a person who sold himself as a servant was released after six years. If he chose to remain, he could—but in the fiftieth year, he was also set free.

What a lesson in self-renewal. We often say, “If I were given a second chance, things would be different,” and here Torah law makes that second chance a reality.

The spiritual dimensions of these laws apply in all times and places. Although the Jubilee is not practiced today, its message remains constant. No matter our present state, G-d gives us the ability to start anew and redirect our lives. At every moment, we receive spiritual and material blessings that help us improve ourselves and benefit those around us.

Our Sages teach that wealth is largely a matter of mindset. A truly wealthy person believes he could rebuild even from nothing, while one with a poor mentality may lose even great wealth.

Who is wealthy? One who is satisfied with his portion. This does not mean he lacks ambition, but that he is patient and not pressured. In contrast, one driven by constant want may act rashly and lose not only money, but time, energy, and joy.

It doesn’t have to be that way. It’s never too late to improve our finances, relationships, and mindset.

The Jubilee reminds us we can always begin again. The essential resources lie within us: a soul that is a part of G-d, giving us the power to create goodness for ourselves and those around us.

Wishing you a Shabbat Shalom!

Candle lighting time in NYC: 7:42 PM