This D’var Torah should be a Zechus L’Ilui Nishmas my sister, Kayla Rus Bas Bunim Tuvia A”H, my maternal grandfather Dovid Tzvi Ben Yosef Yochanan A”H, my maternal grandfather Dovid Tzvi Ben Yosef Yochanan A”H, my paternal grandfather Moshe Ben Yosef A”H, my paternal grandmother Channah Freidel Bas Avraham A”H, my uncle Reuven Nachum Ben Moshe & my great aunt Rivkah Sorah Bas Zev Yehuda HaKohein,
It should also be in Zechus L’Refuah Shileimah for:
-My father Bunim Tuvia Ben Channa Freidel
-My grandmother Shulamis Bas Etta
-MY BROTHER: MENACHEM MENDEL SHLOMO BEN CHAYA ROCHEL
-Mordechai Shlomo Ben Sarah Tili
-Noam Shmuel Ben Simcha
-Yehoram Ben Batya
_R’ Simcha Yitzchak Ben Mirela Liyatka
-Chaya Rochel Ettel Bas Shulamis
-And all of the Cholei Yisrael, especially those suffering from COVID-19 and the Meiron tragedy.
-It should also be a Z’chus for an Aliyah of the holy Neshamos of HaRav HaGa’on V’Sar HaTorah Shmaryahu Yosef Chaim Ben HaRav Yaakov Yisrael Kanievsky A”H, Dovid Avraham Ben Chiya Kehas—R’ Dovid Winiarz ZT”L, Miriam Liba Bas Aharon—Rebbetzin Weiss A”H, as well as the Neshamos of those whose lives were taken by terrorists (Hashem Yikom Damam), COVID-19, and the Meiron tragedy.
-It should also be a Z’chus for success for Tzaha”l as well as the rest of Am Yisrael, in Eretz Yisrael and in the Galus.
בס”ד
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Parsha Paradise/פרשה פרדס – B’Har: What Does Yovel Mean? 🐏🌾🏞🔔
Audio:
Parshas B’Har teaches the laws of the seventh agricultural year known as Sh’mitah, which, multiplied by seven, equals Yovel. Sh’mitah means to “leave alone” or to “leave fallow,” in reference to the ceasing of work in one’s land.
However, the meaning of the word “Yovel,” is much less clear. What does Yovel mean?
P’shat:
Rashi teaches that Yovel is named after the Shofar that proclaims it, as “Yuval” means ram.
Ibn Ezra cites the same tradition, but posits that according to the simple read, the word “Yovel” has connotations of “Shiluach,” or “sending forth,” as Yovel frees all Avadim Ivri’im.
Perhaps similarly, Ramban argues in his simple explanation that “Yuval” meams “carry out” or “lead ahead” similar to the word “Yevulah” in Scripture refers which refers to produce or yield which is travels forth from the ground.
Perhaps also similarly, Netziv explains that Yovel connotes movement from place to place, thus a deer, which is constantly on the move, is referred to as a “Yuval.”
Remez:
The Torah teaches that Yovel proclaims “D’ror,” loosely translated as freedom or liberty. R’ Shimshon Raphael Hirsch translates it as “homecoming.”
Ba’al HaTurim points out that the word “D’ror” equals 410 in numerical value, the number of years that B’nei Yisrael were home when the Beis HaMikdash was standing.
Indeed, the truest freedom is not simply to be released to the wild and to one’s own designs and animal instincts, but to be returned home one’s essence and one’s soul. In this vein, Nachal Kedumim explains that the Torah mentions Har Sinai next to the D’ror of Yovel to teach that true freedom is found with one who has the Torah. Sh’mitah and Yovel remove the obstacle of labor so that we can be free from its shackles and from those of the Yeitzer HaRa, so that we could engage in Torah.
Perhaps, in that vein, we could suggest another Remez. Yovel, in Gematria, perhape to our disappointment, does not equal 50 (the year of Yovel) or even 49 (the number of year counted until Yovel). Yovel equals 48. We are taught in Pirkei Avos [6:6] that there are 48 Kinyanei Torah, 48 acquisitions, tools and treasures, through which we can access Hashem’s Torah. That is the point if the freedom and homecoming of Yovel.
Drash:
Eatlier, we wondered: What does Yovel mean?
Does it refer to the Shofar? The sending forth of the slaves? We saw a few interpretations, but perhaps they’re all included.
The Gemara picks up on the extra affirmation “Yovel Hi”-“It is Yovel,” and Darshan’s (derives by way of exegesis) that all of the above are integral to Yovel, that without each, the Shofar blast, the sending if the slaves, and the leaving fallow of one’s land, Yovel is not fulfilled [Rosh HaShannah 9B].
יובל היא. תניא, תקיעת שופר ושילוח עבדים
Sod:
Finally, Ramban explains
“Al Derech HaEmes” (lit., by way of truth, i.e. according to Kabbalah) and Rabbeinu Bachya explains similaly, “Al Derech HaKabbalah,” that the word “Yovel” is related to the word “Yuval” as it appears in Yirmiyah 17:8, which states: “V’Al Yuval Yishalach Shorashav”-“And by way of stream will his roots be sent forth.” In this vein, they explain that Yuval is a stream, something which facilitates the navigation and return of an entity to its roots, indeed, the homecoming to which we’ve been referring. The whole point of the “restrictions” of Sh’mitah, Yovel, and really of the entire Torah is to lead us back to our true roots, our souls, our relationship to Hashem.
We should be Zocheh to that ultimate liberty, freedom, and Geulah for all with the coming of Moshiach, Bimheirah BiYomeinu!
Have a wonderful Shabbos!
-Yehoshua Shmuel Eisenberg