Parashat Behar speaks of the Sabbatical and Jubilee years. The basic idea behind these practices is that we need to give the land a rest – in the case of the Sabbatical (or Shmita) year – every 7 years. Every 50 years, not only does the land get a rest, but all depts are forgiven, the land reverts to the original ancestral ownership and slaves are freed. The main idea behind these practices is the fact that even though we may lay claim to property, in the last analysis it all comes from God.
If a parcel of land you obtain/
And reap profit from grapevine or grain/
Though you’ve plowed and you’ve sown it/
You really don’t own it/
God gives and can take back again.
Rabbi Black is Senior Rabbi of Temple Emanuel in Denver, Colorado. Prior to moving to Denver, he served as Senior Rabbi of Congregation Albert in Albuquerque, New Mexico from 1996-2010,and as Assistant then Associate Rabbi of Temple Israel in Minneapolis, Minnesota from 1987- 1996. He is married and has two children.Rabbi Joe Black is one of the most popular Jewish contemporary artists in the United States. He has been a featured performer at the Coalition for Alternatives in Jewish Education (CAJE) Conference as well as the Biennial Conventions of the Union for Reform Judaism. He has shared his music with hundreds of Jewish communities around the United States and Canada. He also has been featured in many acoustic music venues around the country. Rabbi Black has been honored as one of the “Top Ten Artists” in both the categories of “Jewish Children’s Music” and “Male, Adult Contemporary Jewish Music” by Moment Magazine and TARA Publications. His recordings have received accolades from sources as diverse asThe New York Times, Haddasah Magazine, Parent’s Choice, The American Library Journal and Kids First: The Coalition for Quality Children’s Video. While living in Chicago, he hosted the Emmy award winning television program, The Magic Door on WBBM TV.
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