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Why were Jews exiled for violating Shmitah when Hashem (ה׳) promised triple harvests in the sixth year? The issue wasn't working during the seventh year but begrudging others the right to take freely from their fields. This reflects the deeper challenge of transforming from individual competitors to seeing ourselves as parts of the collective Jewish people - a perspective shift essential for receiving Torah (תורה) and meriting the Land of Israel.
Rabbi Zweig addresses a perplexing question: why were the Jewish people exiled for not observing the Sabbatical year (Shmitah) when it should have been the easiest mitzvah (מצוה) to fulfill? The Torah (תורה) promises that in the sixth year, Hashem (ה׳) provides enough food for three years, essentially paying in advance. If people already received triple the income, why would they worry about not working in the seventh year? The Rabbi proposes that the real issue wasn't working the fields during Shmitah, but rather begrudging others the right to take from their property. During the seventh year, landowners must allow others to enter their fields and take produce freely. This reflects a deeper human condition - the difficulty of seeing others benefit from what we consider ours, even when it costs us nothing.
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Parshas Bechukosai and Behar
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