Tag Info

Yovel is not practiced nowadays, because it applies only when most of the Jewish People live in the Land of Israel, each in their designated tribal territories (Rambam, Hil. Shemittah Veyovel 10:8). When it is in effect, there is a halachic dispute as to whether it breaks up the cycles of shemittah years (i.e., you have 7 shemittah cycles totaling 49 years, ...

The last shemittah year was Jewish year 5768 (13 Sept 2007 - 29 Sept 2008) The next few are: 5775 (25 Sept 2014 - 13 Sept 2015) 5782 (7 Sept 2021 - 25 Sept 2022) 5789 (21 Sept 2028 - 9 Sept 2029) Note that some Rishonim (medieval rabbis) held that the shemittah is the year prior to the years mentioned above (See Tur CM 67) but longstanding normative ...

The MaHaral says that the number 7 is the number of natural occurrence, while the number 8 is for supernatural. Therefore a baby has his Bris on the 8th day to show that we are L'Maalah M'Derech Hatevah. There are many things in the Torah with the number 7. 7 days of the week, 7 years in a Shemita cycle, 7 Shemitas then a Yoveil, and many other examples of ...

I realise that this won't fully answer your question, but until somebody with experience of Samaritans weighs in, I can tell you that both Jews and Samaritans determine the agricultural year from the seventh month and not the first. This means that, unlike various other festivals, Jews and Samaritans "celebrate" the Shemittah year at the same time, and ...

I think the point is the opposite, that you would think Shmitta is approaching, so you won't lend with any expectation of repayment, so the Torah is saying then give it as a gift, or make it a loan if the person is too proud to take a gift. However, I would point out that in general the concept of a loan here is really tzedakah that you have minimal reason ...